PORTLAND Ore. (KPTV) – North Bend, Oregon is now home to the World’s Ugliest Dog, and while the title is new to the state of Oregon, it is one that 8-year-old Pekingese, Wild Thang, has been competing for for the past five years.
Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, Wild Thang recently retired to North Bend, Oregon where on Friday, June 21 he finally brought home the title: World’s Ugliest Dog. The competition was held at the Sonoma-Marin Fair in Petaluma, California as an event to raise awareness for the adoration of all animals.
Wild Thang himself is not a dog without a cause. While the dog’s claim to fame is his looks, or rather the lack thereof, his unique story is what continues to captivate audiences.
Wild Thang contracted distemper as a puppy from a rescue foster, a disease that can occur in unvaccinated dogs. However, not all dogs who contract the disease are as lucky as Wild Thang. After contracting the disease as a puppy, Wild Thang barely survived, while the other dog from the rescue shelter who contracted the disease did not.
After numerous lifesaving treatments, and thousands of dollars later, Wild Thang survived. Still, the dog was plagued with permanent damage: his teeth did not grow in, causing his tongue to hang out, and he suffers from constant seizures in his right front leg.
In light of these challenges, Wild Thang continues to live a happy life, one that now holds an esteemed title.
If you wish to keep up with Wild Thang’s future endeavors you can follow along via his Instagram account (Wildthangofficial). Similarly, Wild Thang has created a GoFundMe account to bring fellow Pekingese dogs, from the war zone in Ukraine, to safety. An effort that has resulted in the adoption of seven Pekingese dogs who are now happily living in their new homes in Canada and the U.S.
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