The winner of the World’s Ugliest Dog contest for 2024 has been announced.
The competition, in which various dogs are judged on their extracurricular activities and less-than-attractive appearance, was held at the Sonoma Marine Fair in Petaluma, California, about 38 miles north of San Francisco.
Having participated in the competition five times Wild ThangIt was announced at the fair that an eight-year-old Pekingese from North Bend, Oregon, took home the first-place trophy.
During the contest, held on Friday, June 21, each dog had the opportunity to win the hearts of voters and the contest sponsor, Mug Root Beer.
The root beer company is a first-time sponsor of the event, offering a cash prize pool of $10,000 for the top three winners. The first-place winner will receive $5,000, second-place will receive $3,000 and third-place will receive $2,000. In addition, the winner will have the opportunity to be featured on a limited-edition can of root beer, Mele said.
Here’s more about Wild Thang and the second and third place winners of the World’s Ugliest Dog contest.
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Winner of the World’s Ugliest Dog Contest 2024
Wild Thang
If you want to see a dog that is determined to thrive and survive, first place winner Wild Thang is the face of it. Born in Los Angeles, the dog’s family is now retired in Oregon.
When he was a puppy, Wild Thang contracted distemper from a rescue foster. Unfortunately, another puppy did not survive, but he did. Although he has permanent damage such as his teeth not growing in properly or his right leg paddling 24/7, he has overcome these obstacles to become a happy and healthy dog.
Since recovering from this traumatic event, Wild Thang has made it her goal to advocate in favor of pets getting vaccinated. Using her Instagram account she has posted her GoFundMe where she has tried to send resources to her fellow Pekingese living in Ukraine. Seven dogs from the country have been safely rescued and have been adopted by families in Canada and the United States.
Rome
When you hear the name Rome, you think of an ancient, grand place, and a place people love to visit.
The second-place winner is Rome, a 14-year-old pug from the Pug Hotel in Rohnert Park, California. This pug continues to win the hearts of many with his charm, personality, and sweet dance moves.
After being abandoned at the Pug Hotel by his owner, Rome received the care he deserved and became a prominent figure in his community. In 2023 the pug participated in the Wheeling Pug Relay which raises funds to purchase wheelchairs for differently abled dogs. In addition, Rome frequently visits hospice patients and schools to educate children about the importance of adopting a senior rescue dog.
Daisy Mae
This California girl loves sunbathing, chasing squirrels, and annoying her older sister Harriet.
Second place winner Daisy May is a 14-year-old bitch who is now enjoying her life, but it wasn’t all that easy at the beginning. She faced some tough times at the age of two and over the years she has lost her hair, teeth and vision. It is said that she even escaped from a cat gang. Throughout her struggles the bitch has challenged the odds and gained more confidence, new friends and eventually a permanent home.
Ahjane Forbes is a reporter on USA TODAY’s national trending team. Ahjane covers breaking news, car recalls, crime, health, lotteries and public policy stories. Email her aforbes@gannett.com.follow him Instagram, Threads And X (Twitter) @forbesfinest.
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