Meet Mugly: The World’s Ugliest Dog

If you’re a dog lover, you’re probably sitting in front of your computer or iPhone right now going, “Come on. There’s NO such thing as an ugly dog,” and that’s where you’d be wrong. At least in the eyes of the Petaluma, California judges that awarded “Mugly” the honorary title yesterday.

Meet Mugly: Mugly is a Chinese crested with a short, crooked snout, beady little eyes, and dramatically long white whiskers hanging over a sideways-underbite. He is an 8-year-old rescue dog from the U.K. While he doesn’t lack of charm, Mugly’s looks earned him the title “World’s Ugliest Dog” at the annual contest in Northern California yesterday. Mugly beat 28 other dogs in total, brought from all over the world. He’ll have to make some media appearances, of course – he’s invited for a photo shoot and will get a VIP stay at the local Sheraton.

Also for his trouble, Mugly wins fame, one-thousand smackers, and a year’s supply of dog treats, reports AP. We’re guessing women factor into it somehow, but we don’t know the details.

“I couldn’t speak when they announced Mugly’s name,” said Bev Nicholson, the dog’s owner. “I didn’t know which way to look. I was shaking as much as the dog.”

The contest gets worldwide attention, so there really isn’t anywhere higher Mugly can go. He’s already won competitions for being ugly in the past – Nicholson said that he was voted Britain’s ugliest dog in 2005.

The contest’s organizers have said that they judge each contestant in terms of “natural ugliness in both pedigree and mutt classes.” Last year, the winner was also a Chinese crested (well, Chihuahua mix) named Yoda.