If at first you don’t succeed, strive, strive, strive, strive once more.
That’s the message from the proprietor of Wild Thang, the newly topped winner of the World’s Ugliest Canine contest, who lastly gained after 5 years of coming into the competitors.
The 8-year-old Pekingese didn’t place in his first go-round within the contest, after which adopted it up with a trio of second-place finishes, earlier than claiming this yr’s title on June 21 in Petaluma, California.
“He obtained second three years in a row, first yr nothing. So then three years in a row, he obtained second and we had been like, ‘Let’s simply go once more as a result of it’s a lot enjoyable. And if not, we’ll return the subsequent yr,’” his proprietor, Ann Lewis informed TODAY on June 24.
“Even ugly is gorgeous,” she added.
Lewis additionally stated Wild Thang, who loves ice cream, ice and other people, is having fun with his newfound fame, enduring a ton of consideration throughout his journey to New York Metropolis — together with on the airport.
“We obtained bombarded. He was simply loving it,” she stated. “He was wagging his tail. He was glad. He was getting head photographs with folks.”
The canine was born and raised in Los Angeles and just lately retired to North Bend, Oregon, in line with his bio on Sonoma-Marin Honest’s web site. Wild Thang contracted distemper as a pet from a rescue foster.
“He survived, however not with out everlasting harm,” his bio says. “His tooth didn’t develop in, inflicting his tongue to remain out and his proper entrance leg paddles 24/7.”
Other than the bodily points, Wild Thang is “a wholesome, glad Glugly (glamorous/ugly) man,” his bio reads.
He and Lewis took residence a $5,000 test.
NBC Information’ Gadi Schwartz helped choose the 2024 contest, together with Linda Witong Abrahm, Brian Sobel, Amy Gutierrez, Fiona Ma.
Final yr, a hairless Chinese language Crested pup named Scooter took residence the title. Scooter was born with deformed again legs and become animal management for euthanasia by his breeder. He was rescued by the Saving Animals From Euthanasia (SAFE) rescue group, which his proprietor is a member of, and now makes use of a cart to assist him stroll.
The competition has been occurring for practically 50 years, in line with the web site of Sonoma-Marin Honest, the place the occasion takes place. The annual competitors focuses on celebrating the individuality of all canine and the advantages of adopting.
“The annual World’s Ugliest Canine Contest is just not about making enjoyable of ‘ugly’ canine,” the web site reads. “However having enjoyable with some great characters and exhibiting the world that these canine are actually lovely!”