The World's Ugliest Dog Contest won by Wild Thang

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

The competition, held during the 2024 Sonoma-Marin Fair in Petaluma, California, included eight contenders this year – the majority of rescues 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 appearance is due to a case of distemper when he was a 10-week-old puppy.

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

The World's Ugliest Dog competition has been running for almost 50 years and “celebrates the imperfections that make all dogs special and unique,” according to the website.

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

A 14-year-old pug in a wheelchair named Rome finished in second place and will receive a $3,000 prize. It was Rome's first participation in the competition.

“I love that [the competition] represents dogs that are imperfect – imperfectly perfect,” said Michelle Grady, Rome’s owner.

Another first-time entrant, a 14-year-old white-coated mixed-breed rescue dog named Daisy May, won third place and will receive $2,000.

She was rescued from the streets at the age of two. She has lost her hair, teeth and eyesight.

Daisy May's owner Elizabeth Whitehouse said it was a surprise to achieve a podium finish.

“I thought she would be the most beautiful ugly dog, but it turns out other people don't see the beauty in her like I do,” she said.

There was also online voting for fans to select one special dog to receive the People's Choice Award, which went to Rome, the judges' runner-up.

The annual competition emphasizes the importance of adopting all animals.

According to the competition, it's not about making fun of “ugly” dogs, but about “having fun with some beautiful characters and showing the world that these dogs really are beautiful!”

This year's judges included NBC News correspondent Gadi Schwartz, human rights attorney Linda Witong Abrahm and California's 34th Treasurer Fiona Ma.

Entries this year included Chihuahua mixes, Chinese Crested mixes and Pug mixes.

One entrant who missed out on an award, Freddie Mercury, is a rescue who made his debut in the competition this year.

Fred, who is described as having “a face like a forklift truck”, spends his days as the mascot for Petaluma's local ice cream truck.

He also goes to youth football games and is a special request at birthday parties.