The Unexpected Beauty: Meet Wild Thang, The World's Ugliest Dog 2024 Winner

Every year, the World's Ugliest Dog Contest flips the script on conventional beauty standards, celebrating the unique charm and heartwarming stories of dogs who are perfectly imperfect. This year, the crown for the "ugliest dog in the world" has gone to a fluffy, perpetually surprised Pekingese, a dog whose life story is a testament to resilience and the power of adoption. The 2024 winner is a reminder that a dog’s true value lies not in its pedigree or appearance, but in the love it gives and receives.

As of December 12, 2025, the reigning champion of the title is a dog whose distinct look, caused by a serious illness in his youth, has finally earned him global recognition and a $5,000 prize. His victory is more than just a quirky headline; it’s an international platform to advocate for pet adoption and the crucial need for dog vaccinations.

Wild Thang: The Unconventional Champion's Biography

The 2024 World's Ugliest Dog Contest winner, Wild Thang, is an 8-year-old male Pekingese whose shaggy, flowing coat and perpetually tongue-out expression captivated the judges and the world. His story is one of survival and persistence, having competed in the annual event multiple times before finally taking the top prize.

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• Name: Wild Thang
• Breed: Pekingese
• Age: 8 years old (as of 2024 contest)
• Owner: Ann Lewis
• Hometown: Coos Bay, Oregon, USA
• Unique Feature: Long, shaggy hair that often covers his eyes, a muscular disorder, and an inability to grow teeth due to a childhood illness.
• Contest History: Won the 2024 title on his fifth attempt, having previously been a runner-up multiple times.
• Cause of Appearance: Contracted canine distemper as a 10-week-old puppy from a foster dog, which left him with permanent neurological and physical damage.
• Prize: $5,000 and an appearance on NBC's *Today* show.

Wild Thang’s journey to the crown was a long one, marked by four previous entries where he consistently placed as a runner-up. His distinctive look is not a genetic trait but the result of a harrowing battle with canine distemper when he was just a 10-week-old puppy.

The viral disease affected the growth of his teeth, which is why his tongue often hangs out, and it caused a muscular disorder that gives him his unique, almost startled expression. Despite these challenges, his owner, Ann Lewis, describes him as a "glugly" (glamorous-ugly) dog who loves to run around their farm in Coos Bay, Oregon, and play with the other animals.

The Heart Behind the "Ugly": A Contest of Compassion and Adoption Advocacy

The World's Ugliest Dog Contest, held annually at the Sonoma-Marin Fair in Petaluma, California, is often misunderstood. Far from being a cruel spectacle, the event, which has been running for nearly 50 years since the 1970s, serves as a powerful platform for dog adoption and rescue advocacy.

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The core mission is to celebrate the beauty in all animals, regardless of their physical imperfections, and to encourage people to adopt a dog from a shelter or rescue organization. The competition highlights that many of the contestants are rescue dogs, mutts, or pups with special needs, proving that every dog deserves a loving home.

The contest is judged by a panel of experts who score the dogs on three main criteria, moving beyond simple aesthetics to focus on the dog's character and story:

• Special or Unusual Attributes: This category rewards the unique physical features that make the dog stand out, such as an exaggerated underbite, a perpetually dangling tongue, or an unusual coat.
• Personality: Judges look for a dog's charm, demeanor, and how they interact with their handler and the crowd. A great personality is key to winning.
• Natural Ugliness: This is the subjective "wow" factor—the overall impression of the dog's unconventional appearance, including factors like missing teeth, fur challenges, missing eyes, or deformed limbs.

The contest deliberately avoids judging dogs that have been intentionally groomed or modified to look "ugly." The focus is on natural, inherent, and often medically-related imperfections, turning perceived flaws into celebrated features.

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A Legacy of Unconventional Canine Stars: The Most Famous Winners

Wild Thang joins an esteemed and quirky list of champions whose unique looks have earned them global fame and a place in the history of the World's Ugliest Dog Contest. These past winners embody the contest's spirit of celebrating the underdog and the beauty of difference. Their stories add significant topical authority to the event, demonstrating its long-standing cultural impact.

The 2023 Winner: Scooter

The immediate predecessor to Wild Thang was Scooter, a 7-year-old Chinese Crested dog who won the 2023 title. Scooter’s defining feature was his two hind legs, which were born facing backward. A rescue dog who was almost euthanized, his victory highlighted the importance of giving a chance to dogs with severe physical disabilities. His owner, Linda Elmquist, celebrated his triumph as a win for all dogs with special needs.

Hall of Fame of Ugliest Dogs

The contest has launched many canine celebrities over the decades. These dogs, often with complex backstories, have used their platform to promote animal welfare:

• Sam (2003–2005): A three-time champion, Sam was a blind, hairless Chinese Crested dog whose wrinkled skin and prominent teeth made him a legend in the contest's history.
• Elwood (2007): A Chinese Crested and Chihuahua mix, Elwood was famous for his tuft of white hair and his perpetually shocked expression, which often made him look like a creature from another planet.
• Yoda (2011): A tiny Chinese Crested and Chihuahua mix, Yoda was noted for her short tufts of hair, protruding tongue, and thin, mottled skin, resembling a character out of a science fiction movie.
• Quasimodo (2015): A mix of Dutch Shepherd and Pit Bull, Quasimodo was born with a severe spinal deformity—shortened vertebrae—earning him the name of the famous literary character.
• Sweepee Rambo (2016): A blind, hairless Chinese Crested with a blonde Mohawk and a tongue that constantly hung out of the side of her mouth.
• Scamp the Tramp (2019): A former stray with a wild, untamable mop of hair and a shaggy coat, Scamp the Tramp was a beloved winner whose story emphasized the power of adopting rescue dogs.

The Enduring Appeal of Unconventional Canines

The global fascination with the "ugliest dog" is rooted in a deep human desire to root for the underdog and recognize beauty in unexpected places. The media coverage, from the Sonoma-Marin Fair to appearances on national television shows like the *Today* show, transforms these once-overlooked animals into international stars.

Wild Thang's victory, achieved after five years of trying, is a powerful example of perseverance. His life, marked by a serious childhood illness, now serves as a beacon of hope and a reminder to pet owners everywhere about the importance of pet health and responsible ownership, particularly the need for canine distemper vaccinations.

Ultimately, the contest is less about finding a dog that is truly "ugly" and more about celebrating the incredible resilience, unique personalities, and unconditional love that all dogs, especially those with special needs or unconventional looks, bring into the lives of their human companions. The title of "World's Ugliest Dog" is, in reality, a crown of honor, compassion, and global adoration.