Wild Thang's Victory: Rescued Pekingese Wins World's Ugliest Dog 2024 Contest

Wild Thang, an eight-year-old Pekingese from Coos Bay, Oregon, US, won the 2024 World's Ugliest Dog Contest. The annual event was held at the Sonoma-Marin Fair in Petaluma, California, and aims to celebrate the unique beauty of all dogs, especially those that have been rescued.

Wild Thang has competed in the contest five times before finally winning. He was diagnosed with canine distemper as a puppy, which affected his growth and caused a muscular disorder in one of his legs. Despite these challenges, he's a happy and loving dog who enjoys cuddling and playing with his toys. His owner, Ann Lewis, received a $5,000 price and an invitation to appear on NBC's Today show.

The contest, which has been held for nearly 50 years, emphasises the importance of pet adoption and care. Many of the dogs in the competition were rescued from shelters, highlighting the need for loving homes for all animals.

This year, eight dogs participated in the contest. The runner-up was Rome, a 14-year-old one-eyed pug who is known for his joyful "tippy tap" dance.

Daisy Mae, a 14-year-old mixed-breed dog who has lost her teeth, hair, and vision, came in third place.

The judging panel included NBC News correspondent Gadi Schwartz, human rights advocate Linda Witong Abrahm, and California's state treasurer Fiona Ma. Additionally, the public could vote online for the People's Choice award, which also went to Rome.

The Guardian reported that the idea for the event came from Petaluma resident Ross Smith in 1971 as a way to generate fundraising revenue for the community’s Old Adobe Association, and the Sonoma-Marin Fair has hosted the event since 1988.

Some other notable contestants included:

• Freddie Mercury, a 14-year-old Brussels-Griffon/Pug mix, and mascot for a local ice-cream truck.

• Ozzie, a 10-year-old terrier mix, who helps care for foster kittens.

• Mochi, a nine-month-old Chihuahua/Jack Russell Terrier mix, who brings joy to puppy social classes.

• Poppy, a five-year-old Chinese Crested/Gremlin mix, who is also a psychiatric service dog.

• Twiggy, a 14 or 15-year-old Chihuahua mix, who loves wearing sweaters and going on walks.