Wild Thang Wins World’s Ugliest Dog Title for the First Time

Ann Lewis proudly describes her 8-year-old Pekingese, Wild Thang, from Coos Bay, Oregon, as ‘glugly’ – a unique blend of glamorous and ugly.

This year marked their fifth appearance at the Sonoma-Marin Fair, aiming for the coveted title of the World’s Ugliest Dog.

With enthusiasm, Lewis and her furry companion confidently paraded down the red carpet, hoping for their first win in the competition.

And indeed, the moment arrived when Gadi Schwartz, an NBC News correspondent, announced Wild Thang as the ugliest dog in the world, edging out seven other fierce competitors.

A panel of judges including Linda Witong Abrahm, Brian Sobel, Amy Gutierrez, and Fiona Ma, along with Schwartz, couldn’t resist Wild Thang’s unique charm that only a mother could love.

Sobel humorously compared the Pekingese to a Roomba, highlighting the undeniable quirkiness that led to his victory.

Wild Thang’s appearance, shaped by surviving distemper as a puppy, left him toothless with a perpetually lolling tongue and a ‘wonky’ right leg that hinders his mobility.

When not reveling in his newfound fame, Wild Thang and Lewis focus on rescuing Pekingese dogs in Ukrainian war zones, aiding seven dogs in relocating to the US and Canada.

As the World’s Ugliest Dog titleholder, Wild Thang received $5,000, a year’s supply of Mug Root Beer, and an all-expenses-paid trip to New York City to feature on the Today show on NBC.