A new puppy has been crowned the ugliest dog in the world.
Wild Thang won the 2024 The world’s ugliest dog contest in Petaluma, California, on Friday.
Wild Thang, an 8-year-old Pekingese, has already participated in the competition four times, finishing second three times before finally winning first place this year.
The dog was born and raised in Los Angeles and recently retired to North Bend, Oregon.
According to his biography, Wild Thang contracted distemper as a puppy from a foster family.
“He survived, but not without permanent damage,” his biography says. “His teeth did not grow, causing his tongue to stick out and his right front leg to paddle 24/7.”
Aside from his physical problems, Wild Thang is “a healthy, happy Glugly (glamorous/ugly) man,” his biography says.
He and his owner Ann Lewis took home a check for $5,000.
NBC News’ Gadi Schwartz helped judge the 2024 competition, along with Linda Witong Abraham, Brian Sobel, Amy Gutierrez and Fiona Ma.
Last year, a hairless Chinese Crested puppy named Scooter won the title. Scooter was born with deformed hind legs and his breeder turned him over to the Animal Shelter for euthanasia. He was rescued by the rescue group Saving Animals From Euthanasia, of which his owner is a member, and now uses a cart to help him walk.
According to the website of the Sonoma-Marin Fair, where the event takes place, the competition has been around for almost 50 years. The annual competition focuses on celebrating the uniqueness of all dogs and the benefits of adoption.
“The annual World’s Ugliest Dog Contest is not about making fun of ‘ugly’ dogs,” the website says. “But having fun with some beautiful characters and showing the world that these dogs are truly beautiful!”
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
