If there’s one factor that the majority canine homeowners will inform you, it’s that their canine is the cutest. And fairly frankly, they’re all right. Nonetheless, at this 12 months’s Sonoma County Honest, an uncommon group of canine lovers took half within the annual World Ugliest Canine competitors. This may not look like the kind of contest you’d need your canine to win, however there’s something plain about these much less conventionally engaging canines.
This slightly distinctive occasion has been a much-loved function of the Sonoma-Marin Honest in Petaluma, however this 12 months the competition made its debut on the Sonoma County Honest in Santa Rosa on August 8, 2025. Competitors was powerful, with ten outstanding canines competing to be named ugliest canine. Finally, it was a two-year-old hairless Frenchie Bulldog cross, Petunia, who was topped the general winner.
Petunia, rescued from a horrible scenario in Las Vegas by Luvable Canine Rescue, is described as a delicate soul who adores different canines, cats, and folks. Her favourite pastimes embody snuggling and taking path walks within the Oregon woods. Following her rescue, she acquired important veterinary care, together with spay and BOAS surgical procedures to right an elongated palate frequent in poorly bred bully breeds.
For the second 12 months in a row, MUG® Root Beer sponsored the World’s Ugliest Canine® Contest, serving to elevate the overall prize pool to $10,000. This 12 months’s awards embody $5,000 for first place, $3,000 for second, and $2,000 for third place. Petunia can even have her second of fame because the (non permanent) face of MUG Root Beer, with a line of limited-edition MUG merchandise.
“That is one in all my favourite occasions of the 12 months! I’m so happy that now we have such wonderful companions to work with,” stated Sonoma-Marin Agricultural Affiliation CEO Mandy Clendenen. “Due to each MUG and the Sonoma County Honest, we will preserve this incredible custom alive.”
Maybe it was the star flip of Britain’s Ugliest Canine, Peggy, the Chinese language Crested Combine, in the latest installment of Marvel’s Deadpool & Wolverine, starring Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman, that has elevated the much less aesthetically lucky canines to the extent of lovable. Take observe world – ugly is the brand new cute!
It actually highlights that there’s way more to canine companionship than appearances. Many of those less-than aesthetically good canines discovered loving houses via adoption, proving that giving canines a second probability might be rewarding for each animal and proprietor. In spite of everything, a pet’s cuteness is fleeting; ugly is eternally!
To assist animal rescue tasks, MUG will make a one-time donation to the Dogwood Animal Rescue Undertaking situated in Santa Rosa, California. “At MUG, we’ve at all times rooted for the underdog—actually. As a dog-backed model, we’re proud to indicate up for canines in want, identical to our mascot, Canine, would need. This 12 months, we’re inviting our followers to affix us in our mission to root for all canines, assist them discover houses, and commemorate the World’s Ugliest Canine with the most important honor we all know: their face on our can” stated Michael Smith, Vice President, MUG Root Beer.
