Zsa Zsa, a 9-year-old English bulldog, has won this year's World's Ugliest Dog award at a contest in the San Francisco Bay Area. The competition, which is held annually, aims to raise awareness for dog adoption.
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/J. Chiu
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English bulldog Zsa Zsa (main picture) was awarded the title of the World's Ugliest Dog at this year's competition, held at the Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds in Petaluma, San Francisco, on Saturday.
Zsa Zsa's owner, Megan Brainard of Anoka, Minnesota, was chosen to receive the cash prize of $1,500 (€1,285) in the competition, which has attracted significant media coverage in the past few years.
Brainard found Zsa Zsa on a pet-finding website, according to the contest bio.
The organizers of the World's Ugliest Dog competition aim to promote dog adoption.
Pekingese Wild Thang was not ugly enough to win the 2018 contestImage: picture-alliance/AP Photo/J. Chiu
'Ugly is beautiful'
Dogs in the competition flaunt their imperfections as they walk down a red carpet with their owners. A panel of judges evaluates the ugliness of a dog and decides the winner.
Dogs without hair, dogs with lolling tongues and dogs with other imperfections from all over the US, as well as other countries, participate in the fair. Dog owners must provide documents to prove the animals are healthy.
Last year's World's Ugliest Dog prize went to a 3-year-old, 125-pound (57-kilo) Neapolitan Mastiff named Martha. She was nearly blind from neglect when she was rescued in Sonoma County, California. It took several surgeries before she was able to see again.
Neapolitan Mastiff Martha won the title in 2017Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/J. Chiu
This year's contestants included a blackhead-covered Chinese Crested-Dachshund mutt, a mixed-breed bulldog with excessive wrinkly skin, and a Pekingese named Wild Thang.
The competition is now in its 30th year. In 2013, on its 25th anniversary, the organizers published a book, World's Ugliest Dogs, which featured photographers that had covered the fair over the years.
World's Ugliest Dog Contest 2017
Youth and bulk has taken the crown after a Neapolitan Mastiff called Martha won this year's World's Ugliest Dog award. The annual prize in Petaluma, California, aims to raise awareness for dog adoption.
Image: Getty Images/J. Sullivan
Martha takes the crown
While older and smaller dogs have traditionally been the best performers, this year's World's Ugliest Dog prize went to a three-year-old, 125-pound (57-kilos) Neapolitan Mastiff named Martha. She was nearly blind from neglect when she was rescued in Sonoma County, California. It took several surgeries before she was able to see again.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/J. Edelson
Moe takes the Spirit Award
The second-place prize, known as the Spirit Award, is presented to a dog and owner who have overcome hardships or provide a special service to their community. The oldest dog in the competition, Moe, a 16-year-old Brussels Griffon-pug mix from Santa Rosa, California, took the award. Moe has lost his hearing and sight but his sense of smell is said to still be impeccable.
Image: Getty Images/J. Sullivan
Chase travels from across the Atlantic to compete
Chase, a 14-year-old Chinese Crested-Harke mix from Neath in the United Kingdom, traveled further than any other contestent to compete in the World's Ugliest Dog competition. He came in third place.
Image: Getty Images/J. Sullivan
Raising money for charity
Good causes underline the World's Ugliest Dog awards. The competition itself aims to raise awareness for dog adoption. However, Icky, a regular contestant, has used his own distinguishing looks to help raise more than $10,000 (8,994 euros) for several AIDS-related charities. He was rescued from a hoarder in Butte County, California.
Image: Getty Images/J. Sullivan
Beauty is only skin deep
The panel doesn't just award points for their natural ugliness. Contestants are also judged on first impressions, unusual attributes, personality and audience reaction. Most dogs have been adopted from shelters and rescue homes. So, while they may not be admired much for their good looks, their owners maintain that it was love at first sight.
