Bulldog Petunia, devoid of fur, triumphs in the World's Ugliest Dog Contest held in California.
World's Ugliest Dog Contest Celebrates Unique Canines and Promotes Adoption
The annual World's Ugliest Dog contest, held at the Sonoma County Fair in Santa Rosa, California, is a celebration of dogs with unconventional looks. This unique event, which began in the 1970s, showcases dogs with wrinkled faces, unusual tongues, and other distinctive features [2].
The contest judges consider three main criteria: appearance, personality, and audience reaction. Instead of punishing dogs for their looks, judges vote based on a combination of these factors [2]. This contest has a positive purpose, as many participants are rescues, highlighting their lovable qualities despite their unconventional appearance.
Prize money is awarded to the winners, and they often gain media attention, such as appearances on national TV programs. For instance, the 2025 winner was Petunia, a 2-year-old hairless French Bulldog mix with wrinkled features and short legs. She won a $5,000 prize and a trip to New York to appear on NBC's "Today" show [2].
Petunia, a gentle soul who adores other dogs, cats, and people, was rescued from a backyard breeder and hoarder in Las Vegas. Other notable winners include Scooter, a Chinese Crested who won the title in the year before, and last year's winner, an eight-year-old Pekingese named Wild Thang, who survived distemper as a puppy.
The contest also includes dogs like the eight-year-old Chinese Crested Little Prince Wonder and Chihuahua Nezumi, who were contenders this year. It's worth noting that the previous winner, Petunia, is a hairless Bulldog mix and not a Chihuahua mix, contrary to some reports.
In the UK, Peggy, a Chihuahua-Chinese Crested mix, won the title of Britain's Ugliest Dog in 2023. Peggy became famous in her native UK and even appeared in Marvel's Deadpool & Wolverine as Dogpool. However, Peggy was not a contestant in the World's Ugliest Dog contest.
The World's Ugliest Dog contest celebrates the imperfections that make all dogs special and unique. It promotes the adoption of dogs, emphasizing their lovable qualities despite their unconventional appearance. Information for next year's contest will be shared on the Sonoma-Marin Fair's website.
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