Eight-year-old pekingese Wild Thang wins World’s Ugliest Dog contest

The yearly competition for the World's Ugliest Dog might not have the nicest name for the winner, but Wild Thang doesn't seem to mind.

The small Asian breed dog, who is eight years old, came in first place in this year's contest on Friday.

Eight dogs competed for the championship at the Sonoma-Marin Fair in 2024 in Petaluma, California. The majority of the animals were rescued from shelters before finding their forever homes.

The dog named Wild Thang from Coos Bay, Oregon, has participated in five World's Ugliest Dog contests. His first win was on Friday.

He was told he had distemper when he was just a 10-week-old puppy, which stopped his teeth from growing and made one of his legs weak.

The people who run the World’s Ugliest Dog contest have been putting on the competition every year for almost 50 years, as stated on their website. The website explains that the competition promotes the love and care of all animals, as well as the advantages of adopting pets.

Ann Lewis, the owner of Wild Thang, is set to receive $5,000 for the victory and an opportunity to appear on the Today show on NBC.

In the competition, the second-place winner was Rome, a 14-year-old pug. Taking third place was a 14-year-old mixed-breed dog named Daisy Mae, with a white coat. Daisy Mae was adopted from the streets at two years old and has since lost her teeth, hair, and eyesight.

Other participants also included dogs that are a mix of chihuahua, Chinese crested, and pug breeds. One standout was Freddie Mercury, a 14-year-old mix of brussels-griffon and pug. Although Freddie didn't win any awards at the event, he is well-loved in the community as the mascot of a local ice-cream truck. He is a regular guest at birthday parties and youth sports events in Petaluma.

Judges decided the winner, but the public also had the opportunity to vote online for their favorite. The people's choice award was given to Rome, a 14-year-old pug.

This year's panel of judges included Gadi Schwartz from NBC News, human rights supporter Linda Witong Abrahm, and California's state treasurer, Fiona Ma.

The event was first thought up by Ross Smith, a resident of Petaluma, in 1971. It was created to help raise money for the Old Adobe Association in the community. The Sonoma-Marin Fair has been hosting the event since 1988.