The ‘World’s Ugliest Dog’ Has Been Named, And I Have Some Thoughts

There’s no doubt about it. I’m a dog person all the way. I’ve had nine dogs over the course of my life. We went from Newfoundlands, to Shih-Tzus and Maltese (Malteses? Malti? I have no idea), to Victorian bulldogs to English bulldogs.

I’m riding in the bulldog train all the way home. I don’t think I’ll ever deviate. There are so many different looks and personalities within that particular breed.

I currently have two English bulldogs. My oldest girl, Maggie Mae, passed away two weeks ago. (It actually happened when I was visiting Kimber in AZ. I cried, and she took me out for ice cream. It helped.) She was a 12-year-old Victorian bulldog. She developed a weird cherry-eye situation as she got older, but that aside, she was a downright beaut with a whale belly. (Which is weird, because her favorite snack was ice cubes. We called her the “ice troll,” because every time she heard the ice maker, she’d walk over and wait for you to pay the ice toll.)

That’s Maggie. Like I said, minus the eye issue, she looked bad the bone. She was the sweetest girl in all the land.

So now, I have two dogs. Samuel (Sam/Sammy) and Sophia. They’re both English bulldogs and BFFs for life. Sophia’s a super sassy girl who likes to interrupt my workouts.

… and Sam is an easy-going boy who is incredibly goofy and chill.

As you can see, I’m very devoted to English bulldog life (they even have an Instagram account, which you should definitely follow), which is why I was DEVASTATED to see that an English bulldog was named the winner of the World’s Ugliest Dog contest.

Meet 9-year-old Zsa Zsa.

Zsa Zsa, an English Bulldog, stands onstage after being announced the winner of the 2018 World’s Ugliest Dog contest at the Sonoma-Marin Fair in Petaluma, California, on Saturday, June 23. pic.twitter.com/iwVjejgH9u

— Fox News (@FoxNews) June 24, 2018

The 9-year-old winner, named Zsa Zsa, was found via a pet-finding site by owner Megan Brainard of Anoka, Minn., according to a biography supplied for the contest.

The cuddly competition, which helps organizers publicize that many pets are available for adoption, allowed owners to flaunt the imperfections of their dogs. It was held at the Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds in Petaluma, Calif., north of San Francisco.

“It’s a fun and silly way to advocate that all animals deserve a safe and loving home,” said Christy Gentry, a spokeswoman for the Sonoma-Marin Fair, in a release.

OK– so…at first glance, sure. UGLY. But the WORLD’s ugliest? I’m going to have to disagree.  Sure. Her stance is unsettling and her tongue is freakishly long, but all the other “ugly” parts of her are kind of endearing. (Like her severe underbite and jacked up teeth.)

Meet Zsa Zsa and owner Megan Brainard! Her tongue almost drags on the floor when he walks. It’s real! She got a manicure just for this occasion. #WorldsUgliestDog #SonomaMarinFair pic.twitter.com/G6FwHTbjq3

— Sonoma-Marin Fair (@SonomaMarinFair) June 24, 2018

‘World’s ugliest dog’ Zsa Zsa wins $1,500 prize https://t.co/09unp2V9cH

— Sky News (@SkyNews) June 24, 2018

Zsa Zsa, the 9-year-old English bulldog, was named the winner of the 2018 World’s Ugliest Dog contest in San Francisco. In the annual contest, dogs flaunt their imperfections. (Photo: VCG) #dog pic.twitter.com/gQClWMkU1J

— China Daily (@ChinaDailyUSA) June 24, 2018

Her stance aside, I DON’T THINK SHE’S THAT BAD. Sue me.

World’s Ugliest Dog Contest: Zsa Zsa the English bulldog slurps up 2018 title https://t.co/Qc5QlPqRkT pic.twitter.com/6YXXUXoRET

— WSB-TV (@wsbtv) June 24, 2018

Look at that face! It’s so very smooshable!

When I think of ugly dogs, I think of this.

Or this.

Ir this.

So tell me. Do you think Zsa Zsa really deserved the title here?

h/t Fox News