By: Irwin Koh

Petaluma, California, is Famous for its egg industry, hosting the 2023 world’s ugliest dog. They have been hosting this contest for almost half a century. It is part of the Sonoma-Marin fair. The contest title might be mean, but in reality, it isn’t. The contest celebrates the dogs’ uniqueness and encourages people to adopt and give these animals a loving and caring home.

Scooter is a Chinese crested dog. He has a hairless body and a thin spiky mane on his head. His hind legs are facing backwards,, and his tongue won’t stop coming out of his mouth. Scooter’s distinguished appearance won him the 2018’s ugliest dog.

The winner of the contest came with one thousand five hundred dollars and a big trophy. Scooter learned a fascinating trick; he could walk by balancing his two front legs, and even get on a curb or climb steps. One of the judges, Gaudi Schwartz, said that Scooter has a “warm, huggable power to change the meaning of the word ugly.”

In conclusion, ugliest dog day is not to celebrate their appearance but to celebrate our four-legged friends’ uniqueness, love, and resilience.