Since the 1970s, residents of Petaluma, California, have been crowning the world’s ugliest dog as part of the county fair. Previous winners have included Quasi Modo, a hunch-back pit bull mix rescued from a Florida shelter; a jowly Neapolitan Mastiff, Martha, known for snoring, slobbering, farting, and general un-cooperation; and Zsa Zsa, a 9-year-old bull dog and puppy mill rescue whose tongue essentially trailed on the ground. (After collecting her $1,000 prize, a trip to NYC, national TV appearances, and major bragging rights, Zsa Zsa sadly died a month after her win in 2018.)
Photo: Facebook/Yvonne Michelle Morones
Regardless, this year’s Ugliest Dog Contest, which always takes place during the fourth week of June, has recently crowned a new champion. Scamp the Tramp –– or shall we say, Scamp the Champ – is a former stray who wound up in a LA shelter after being found licking taco bell wrappers in Compton, California.
The mutt’s ugly mug was subsequently posted to Petfinder, where the dog’s bulging eyes and spiky, matted fur instantly appealed to a woman named Yvonne Morones. “I ran across Scamp’s photo and it was just like Tinder for dogs,” Morones told The New York Times. “I swiped right and fell in love with that face.”
Photo: YouTube/The Guardian
Morones clearly has a thing for small ugly dogs, because two of her three Chihuahuas are previous winners of the Ugliest Dog Contest. Regardless, her connection with Scamp was only confirmed on the car ride home, when the dreadlocked rescue apparently bobbed his head to a Bob Marley song.
Regardless, Scamp the Tramp easily beat out 18 other rescues, many of whom were similarly found the streets or plucked from high-kills shelters, for this year’s title, which came with $1,500 stipend, an enormous trophy, and a trip to New York.
Making new friends in New York City. Photo: Facebook/Yvonne Michelle Morones
“Ugly is a four-letter word,” said Kerry sanders, one of the judges. “And so is cute. And when you combine the two, doggone-it, you got a great, great ugly dog.”
It’s also possible that the judges considered Scamp the Tramp’s diverse employment, which working as a therapy dog in nursing homes, helping kids learn to read, quashing collective flight anxiety as an airport greeter, and even participating in a local kissing booth.
Visiting Central Park. Photo: Facebook/Yvonne Michelle Morones
“I am shocked, and happy for him,” Morones told The Guardian in the video below. “He deserves it for everything he does for everybody else.”
from The Animal Rescue Site Blog http://bit.ly/2xc6UJK
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