PETALUMA — “Glugly” is the phrase that Ann Lewis makes use of to explain Wild Thang, her 8-year-old Pekingese from Coos Bay, Oregon.
“It’s glam meets ugly,” Lewis stated earlier than she and her excessively bushy gray-black pup waltzed down the purple carpet and throughout the stage with the hopes of Wild Thang being declared the World’s Ugliest Dog on the Sonoma-Marin Fair on Friday.
“This is our fifth year in the competition, this could be our year!” Lewis declared.
And it was certainly, the yr, when Gadi Schwartz, NBC News correspondent, declared Wild Thang the ugliest dog in the world to a packed crowd on the honest. The newly topped canine beat out seven rivals for the title.
Sarah Stierch by way of Bay City News
The group of 5 judges, comprising Schwartz; Linda Witong Abrahm, former Marin County deputy district legal professional and human rights advocate; Brian Sobel, advisor at Sobel Communications; Amy Gutierrez, sideline reporter for NBC Sports Bay Area, and Fiona Ma, California’s state treasurer, could not resist Wild Thang’s appears to be like that solely a mom might love.
“He looks like a Roomba!” stated Sobel when the pup was offered to the judges.
Wild Thang’s appears to be like could be attributed to a case of distemper when he was a pet, which he barely survived. The virus left him unable to develop enamel, ensuing in his tongue perpetually dangling out of his mouth. It additionally left him with a proper leg that Lewis calls “wonky” and makes it a problem for him to stroll lengthy distances.
When Wild Thang is not basking in his newly discovered movie star standing, he and Lewis elevate funds to assist rescue Pekingese canines in battle zones in Ukraine. To date, they’ve helped seven canines relocate to the United States and Canada.
The title of World’s Ugliest Dog additionally comes with $5,000, a yearlong provide of Mug Root Beer and an all-expenses paid journey to New York City to seem on the Today present on NBC on Monday morning.