“If he hadn’t won I wouldn’t have minded. I’ll be going back next year because I just want to support the cause,” Wild Sun owner Ann Lewis said.
The World’s Ugliest Dog Contest aims to celebrate imperfections and encourage animal adoption. According to the contest’s website, “The World’s Ugliest Dog Contest has proven that pedigree doesn’t define a pet.”
“We want to highlight the importance of promoting adoption and bringing home pets that don’t necessarily fit the norm,” said Mandy Clendenen, CEO of the Sonoma-Marin Fairs. “What may be ugly in the eye of the beholder is beautiful in the eyes of others.”
The World’s Ugliest Dog contest began nearly 50 years ago as part of a four-day fair that also features a carnival, a car show and the farm “Olympics.” About 39,000 people attended this year, and the dog contest has become one of the most popular attractions.
Animal rescue groups participate in the contest to raise awareness and encourage adoptions.
The competition lasts about an hour and a half, including a walk down a red carpet and time to mingle with the judges. This year’s eight contestants were introduced to the audience as their biographies were read aloud. Wild Tan was described as a “glamorous” man – attractive and ugly.
After rigorous deliberation, a panel of judges, including NBC News correspondent Gadi Schwartz and California State Treasurer Fiona Ma, selected Wild Sun as the winner.
“Wild Tan and Ann have been there for years and I think that tenacity and never give up attitude really helped and got them to the top this year,” Clendenen said.
He beat Rome, a 14-year-old one-eyed pug, and Mochi, a nine-month-old Chihuahua-Jack Russell terrier mix with a large underbite. Other contestants included Daisy May, a balding 14-year-old puppy described as an “unconventional beauty queen”, and Ozzy, a 10-year-old terrier mix with a sleeping problem.
Wild Tan contracted distemper – a serious and contagious dog disease – as a puppy, and Lewis said he survived because he had been vaccinated, but the virus affected his teeth.
“He hadn’t gotten his teeth in yet so his tongue was sticking out,” Lewis said, adding that Wild Thang was named “because of his weird fur”.
“He’s a little guy, but he looks big because of all his fur,” she said.
Wild Tan is confident and healthy. “He’s a happy dog,” Lewis added. “His tail is always wagging.”
Lewis first learned about the contest five years ago when someone who saw Wild Sun said, “That’s the ugliest dog I’ve ever seen. You should enter him in a contest.” At the time, Lewis and her husband were living in Los Angeles. They moved to Oregon in 2020.
“The purpose of the Ugly Dog Contest is to raise awareness that dogs don’t have to look perfect to be loved,” Lewis said, “which is why I’ve decided to continue supporting the contest.”
She added: “Other ugly dog owners are great. It’s good to be around positive people.”
Although Wild Sun is not a rescue dog, Lewis is actively involved in rescue efforts and has raised over 50 puppies and placed them with new owners.
“That’s my purpose,” Lewis said, adding that she offers free dog training classes to people and uses the Wild Sun story to highlight the importance of vaccinations for pets.
“We’re always promoting it,” said Lewis, who manages Wild Tang’s Instagram account.
The contest was sponsored by Mug Root Beer, and the winner, Wild Tang, won $5,000. Second place won $3,000, and third place won $2,000.
Lewis said he plans to donate some of the funds to a local animal shelter, Friends of Coos County Animals, and use the rest to cover travel expenses associated with attending the fair.
Since winning the contest, Wild Tan has achieved celebrity status.
On the way home, “he got a lot of attention” at the airport, Lewis said. “Everyone had to take a picture with him, and he had his tongue out.”
Twelve-year-old Hendrix Yancey was sitting next to Wild Sun, who was in a carrier, on a flight from Houston to New York on June 23.
“You look at it and you see this cute little ball of fur,” says Hendricks, the “Stranger Things” actress.
“It had a little tongue sticking out,” she said.
After getting off the plane, Hendrix asked Lewis to take a photo with Wild Tang, and that’s when he learned that Wild Tang had been named the world’s ugliest dog.
“I got to hold him and he was so cute and fluffy and amazing,” Hendrix said. “I don’t think he’s the ugliest dog, but I do think he’s the cutest dog.”
Wild Tan seemed happy with the attention.
“He loves people,” Lewis said. “I couldn’t be happier.”
Lewis hopes “Wild Thang” serves as a reminder that appearances aren’t the most important thing.
“An imperfect dog can become a perfect dog,” she said.