World's ugliest dog contest won by Wild Thang

Wild Thang, an eight-year-old Pekingese, has been crowned as the winner of this year's World's Ugliest Dog competition.

Held during the 2024 Sonoma-Marin Fair in Petaluma, California, this year's contest included eight contenders - the majority rescues who came from shelters before finding their forever families.

Wild Thang, from Coos Bay, Oregon, has competed five times in previous World's Ugliest Dog competitions, but this is his first win.

Wild Thang's unique looks are due to a case of canine distemper when he was a 10-week-old puppy.

The disease prevented the growth of his teeth, hence the dangling tongue, and muscular disorder in one of his legs.

The World's Ugliest Dog competition has been held for nearly 50 years and "celebrates the imperfections that make all dogs special and unique," according to its website.

Wild Thang, and his owner Ann Lewis, will receive $5,000 and on NBC's The Today Show.

A 14-year-old pug in a wheelchair named Rome came in second place and receives a prize of $3,000. It was Rome's first entry into the contest.

"I love that [the competition] represents dogs that are imperfect — imperfectly perfect," Rome's owner Michelle Grady said.