By: Mackenzie Chen

Scooter wins first place in the World’s Ugliest Dog contest in Petaluma, bringing joy to its owner, Linda Elmquist from Tucson, Arizona. Scooter is held by Linda with a smile on her face. This contest has been running for 50 years. One judge describes Scooter as “warm, huggable power that can change the meaning of the word ugly.” After impressing the judges, Scooter receives a trophy and $1,500. Scooter, a Chinese Crested dog, stands out with its hairless body, thin pointing white hair from the head, and its tongue sticking out, making it the winner of the ugliest dog contest.

The contest encourages people to adopt dogs and celebrate those with unusual looks, while also conveying the message that dogs don’t always have to have perfect looks. It encourages everyone to adopt instead of buying. “In the cutest way possible, he kind of reminds me of a hairy hippopotamus,” said one of the judges during Scooter’s introduction. Scooter was born with his rear legs facing backward, rendering them useless for walking. However, a volunteer believed in his survival, and Scooter proved them right. He learned to balance with his front legs, allowing him to walk and climb stairs. Walking with only two legs is extra tiring for dogs, but Scooter recently received a special tool to assist him.

When Linda Elmquist adopted Scooter, she had no idea how he was different from other dogs. Scooter sometimes barks at much bigger dogs and doesn’t seem worried about the size difference. But in general, Scooter is friendly with just about everyone. As the old saying goes, “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” The first contest took place in the 1970s, initially focusing on tricks and the dog’s family history, while also serving as a creative way to raise money.