A Pekingese named “Wild Thang” wins this year’s “World’s Ugliest Dog” competition and receives $5,000 in prize money. The event draws attention to the fate of four-legged friends.
The annual award for the world’s ugliest dog took place last Friday at the Sonoma-Marin Fair in Petaluma, California. As CNN reported, an eight-year-old Pekingese named “Wild Thang” won the “World’s Ugliest Dog” competition after five unsuccessful attempts and brought his owner prize money of 5,000 US dollars, almost 4,700 euros.
Judge Fiona Ma told the Associated Press that “Wild Thang” was a crowd favorite: “It touched our hearts and deserved to win.”
When he was a puppy, “Wild Thang” survived a viral illness that almost cost him his life and left him with permanent damage. His teeth never developed properly, which is why his tongue is constantly hanging out and his right front leg is limping. Despite his difficulties, judge Ma described the Pekingese as a sweet dog who loves to be held and cuddled.
According to CNN, the organizers of the competition emphasize that the aim is not to make fun of the dogs. Rather, the focus should be on the joy of life of the physically disabled animals and to draw attention to their moving life stories.
Second-place finisher Rome, a one-eyed pug with a walking aid, makes an important contribution to the community: he visits hospice patients and takes part in the annual Wheeling Pug Relay to raise money to buy wheelchairs for dogs. Wild Thang was also the face of a fundraiser whose proceeds helped evacuate seven of his fellow pugs from Ukraine.
Last year, the Chinese crested dog Scooter won. His fate draws attention to the suffering of many breeding animals. Because he was born as a puppy with deformed hind legs, he was due to be put down. Stories like Scooter’s should encourage people to take in abandoned and rejected animals, the organizers concluded.
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