World's Ugliest Dog Contest is an annual contest at the colleseum in Petaluma, California, U.S., to decide which of the dogs entered in the contest is the ugliest. Along with the title of "The World's Ugliest Dog", the winner's owner gets a USD $1,000. The winner of the 2007 World's Ugliest Dog was Elwood, a Chinese Crested-Chihuahua mixed breed dog owned by Karen Quigley, a resident of Sewell, New Jersey. 2008's winner was also a Chinese Crested, Jeanenne Teed's Gus. He is hairless, with three legs and one eye.

There is also an "Ugly Dog Contest" in Del Mar, CA that will be on its 14th annual contest in 2008.

2000, 2001

The 2000 and 2001 competitions were won by Nana. While the owner never disclosed the breed (she would say that it was a "Canardly" as in "you can'ardly tell"), it appeared to have at least some Chihuahua or Chinese Crested in it. Nana died later that year.

2002

The 2002 competition was won by Rascal, a pure-bred Chinese Crested. Rascal's grandfather, Chi Chi won the competition 7 times, and holds the Guinness Book World's Record for winning the most World Championships ever, and his mother, Mai Tai and grandmother, Lady Pink, were also past winners. Rascal is owned by actor, Dane Andrew of Sunnyvale, California.

2003-2005

Sam, a blind Chinese Crested dog, was voted the world's ugliest dog three times in a row, from 2003 through 2005. He died in November 2005 causing an end to his three-year reign.

2006

Scandal erupted during the 2006 World's Ugliest Gundy Contest when an as yet unidentified person gained unauthorized electronic access to the contest's internet voting page and deleted 40,000 votes from then leader 'Pee Wee (Son of Sam)' and 30,000 votes from second-place dog 'Victoria', according to fair marketing director Vicki DeArmon . To rectify the situation, fair officials decided to completely restart internet voting on May 22, 2006. The official winner, Archie, was selected by a panel of judges on June 23, 2006. Archie died July 2008.

2007

The winner of the 2007 World's Ugliest Dog competition was a Chinese Crested-Chihuahua mixed breed dog named Elwood, who had placed second the previous year. Rascal, who won the 2002 title became the Ugliest Dog on the West Coast, and is- with the induction of Elwood and Archie - one of 3 only living "Ring of Champions" World's Ugliest Dogs. Most of the competitors in the competition were also Chinese Crested, because the breed can exhibit exaggerated traits like a mohawk, bug eyes and a long, wagging tongue.

2008

The 2008 World's Ugliest Dog competition was won by a Chinese Crested dog named Gus. In addition to having skin cancer, the dog also has only one eye and 3 legs. 11 dogs took part in the competition.

Rascal The 2002 "World's Ugliest Dog" and Ring of Champions holder owned by actor, Dane Andrew of Sunnyvale, Ca. won The World's oldest "Ugly Dog Contest" on Aug 30, 2008 in Fort Bragg, Ca. making him the only dog to win both top titles.

References

Rascal The 2002 "World's Ugliest Dog" and Ring of Champions holder owned by actor, Dane Andrew of Sunnyvale, Ca. won The World's oldest "Ugly Dog Contest" on Aug 30, 2008 in Fort Bragg, Ca. making him the only dog to win both top titles.

External links

• Sam, World's Ugliest Dog, Goes Out A Winner, Final contest won by Sam two days before his death.
• Sonoma-Marin Fair 2006 - World's Ugliest Dog Contest Official Page
• Archie is announced as the 2006 World's Ugliest Dog.
• "Il dottor StranoWeb" article on Sam, World's Ugliest Dog (in Italian)
• The World's Ugliest Dogs - 2007 competition gallery
• The World's Ugliest Dog - 2007 champion - Elwood