Chinese crested rescue
dog earns title of World's Ugliest Dog at annual contest, beating out 28 other
ugly dogs for $1,000 prize and a year's worth of dog cookies
PETALUMA, Calif. — A Chinese crested’s short snout, beady eyes and white
whiskers earned it the title of World’s Ugliest Dog at the annual contest in
Northern California on Friday.
Competing for fame, $1,000 and a year’s worth of dog cookies, Mugly won the
honor by beating out 28 other ugly dogs from around the world.
The 8-year-old rescue dog from the United Kingdom will also be invited for
a photo shoot and will receive a VIP stay at the local Sheraton.
“I couldn’t speak when they
announced Mugly’s name,” said Bev Nicholson, the dog’s owner. “I didn’t know
which way to look. I was shaking as much as the dog.”
It’s not the first time Mugly has been recognized for his unattractiveness.
Nicholson said he was named Britain’s ugliest dog in 2005.
The contest at the Marin-Sonoma Fairgrounds gets worldwide attention, with
reporters and camera crews from around the world traveling to Petaluma, about
40 miles north of San Francisco.
Organizers say the competing dogs are judged for what they term their
“natural ugliness in both pedigree and mutt classes.”
Mugly’s victory was the latest for a Chinese crested. Last year’s winner,
Yoda, was a Chinese crested and Chihuahua mix.