Make way for the new royalty in town, Wild Thang has come to claim the crown — albeit, not for the most flattering of titles. The eight-year-old Pekingese is the winner of this year’s . This year’s event was held during the 2024 Sonoma-Marin Fair in Petaluma, Calif.
, and included eight contenders. Originally from Los Angeles, now residing in North Bend, Ore., Wild Thang has competed for the coveted award on five occasions, but this is his first time taking home the title.
It's a contest where beauty is in the eye of the leash holder. At the annual World’s Ugliest Dog contest at the Sonoma-Marin Fair in Petaluma, California, an 8-year-old Pekingese named Wild Thang finally became top dog. He had finished second place in the contest three times in previous years.
(June 22, 2024 / AP Video) According to his biography, he is one of seven Pekingese to be rescued from war-torn Ukraine and live in the United States. His distinctive looks come from a canine , a serious disease caused by a contagious virus, that he contracted as a puppy from a rescue foster, resulting in permanent damage. The disease caused his loosely hanging tongue, which stems from his teeth not growing in, and his right leg to paddle 24/7.
The World’s Ugliest Dog competition stretches back nearly 50 years. The event is meant to celebrate “the imperfections that make all dogs special and unique,” according to their website. Wild Thang, and his owner Ann Lewis, will receive $5,000 U.
S. for the win and .