Latest news with #English-French
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
This hairless bulldog won $5,000 for being the 'world's ugliest dog'
A hairless English-French bulldog has earned a prize of $5,000 for being awarded the title of the world's ugliest dog. Petunia, the 2-year-old dog, won the World's Ugliest Dog contest at the Sonoma-Marin Fair near San Francisco. Petunia, the two-year-old pup from Oregon, lives with her owner, Shannon Nyman. (X/@w3bsag3) The annual competition judges dogs on a few activities, but mostly focuses on their not-so-cute appearances. The contest raises money to help pet shelters find animals forever homes. According to its website, the contest is five decades old, and many of the contestants "have been rescued from shelters and puppy mills." "Dogs of all breeds and sizes have warmed our hearts and filled our lives with unconditional love. This world-renowned event celebrates the imperfections that make all dogs special and unique." Petunia, the two-year-old pup from Oregon, lives with her owner, Shannon Nyman. According to reports, rescuers first discovered her in a chaotic backyard breeder and hoarding situation in Las Vegas. She was later relocated to Oregon by Luvable Dog Rescue, a nonprofit organisation. 'She's the most wrinkled 2-year-old I've ever seen,' one judge told the TV station. Her charming imperfections earned her the contest crown, a $5,000 prize and a spot on upcoming limited-edition MUG Root Beer cans, courtesy of one of the event sponsors. Following her win, Petunia appeared live on the Today show with Nyman.
Indian Express
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Meet Petunia, the 2-year-old hairless dog crowned ‘world's ugliest'
Petunia, a two-year-old hairless English-French bulldog mix from Eugene, Oregon, has been named the 'World's Ugliest Dog' for 2025. She and her owner, Shannon Nyman, took home Rs 4.3 lakh in prize money at the annual contest held last week at the Sonoma County Fair in Santa Rosa, California, The New York Post reported. Petunia beat 10 other contestants, including Little Prince Wonder, an eight-year-old Chinese Crested, and Nezumi, a 13-year-old Chihuahua. According to the report, Petunia was rescued from a backyard breeder and hoarder in Las Vegas, and brought to Oregon through Luvable Dog Rescue. Unethical breeding practices had left her completely without fur. Despite her rough start, Petunia has a loving personality and is thriving in the spotlight. 'I think she's feeling great. She loves all the attention, she loves all the affection, all the humans petting her,' Nyman told The New York Post. As part of her win, Petunia will appear on limited-edition cans of a popular beer brand. Last year's title went to Wild Thang, an elderly Pekingese who finally won after competing five times. This year's runner-up was Rome, a 14-year-old pug, while third place went to Daisy Mae, a 14-year-old mixed-breed rescued from the streets at age two who has since lost her teeth, hair, and vision. Now in its fifth decade, the 'World's Ugliest Dog' contest is less about looks and more about celebrating uniqueness. As the event's website notes, it 'celebrates the imperfections that make all dogs special and unique' and promotes adoption and animal welfare. The tradition began in 1971 when Petaluma resident Ross Smith launched it as a fundraiser for the Old Adobe Association. Since 1988, it has been a highlight of the Sonoma-Marin Fair, the report said.
NDTV
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Hairless Bulldog, Petunia, Crowned World's Ugliest Dog, Wins Rs 4 Lakh In Prize
The World's Ugliest Dog contest has picked a new winner this year - a two-year-old hairless English-French bulldog mix named Petunia. The pup from Eugene, Oregon, and her owner, Shannon Nyman, won a Rs 4.3 lakh ($5,000) prize during the event at the Sonoma County Fair in Santa Rosa, California, last week. Little Petunia emerged victorious by beating 10 competitors, which included Little Prince Wonder, an 8-year-old Chinese Crested, and Nezumi, a 13-year-old chihuahua. According to a report in New York Times, Petunia was rescued from a backyard breeder and hoarder in Las Vegas and brought to Oregon by Luvable Dog Rescue. Unfortunately, she doesn't have any hair because of her original breeder's unethical practices. "I think she's feeling great. She loves all the attention, she loves all the affection, all the humans petting her," Ms Nyman said. Having won the contest, Petunia will now appear on limited-edition cans of Mug Root Beer, a sponsor of the contest. She is being described as a "gentle soul who adores other dogs, cats and people," Last year, an old Pekingese named Wild Thang won the contest, having already participated in five editions of the competition previously. The runner-up in the competition was a 14-year-old pug named Rome. In the third place was a white-coated mixed-breed 14-year-old dog named Daisy Mae, who was rescued from the streets at age two and has lost her teeth, hair and vision. The World's Ugliest Dog contest has been held for nearly 50 years. It "celebrates the imperfections that make all dogs special and unique," per the website. "The contest speaks to the importance of advocating for the adoration of all animals and the benefits of adopting," it added. According to the website, the idea for the event came from Petaluma resident Ross Smith in 1971 as a way to generate fundraising revenue for the community's Old Adobe Association, and the Sonoma-Marin Fair has hosted the event since 1988. Many of the dogs entering the contest are rescued from shelters and puppy mills, making the event a great rehabilitation exercise for them.
New York Post
11-08-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
World's ugliest dog crowned — see why a ‘gentle soul' bulldog named Petunia was tops: ‘Unique beauty'
This dog is a little ruff around the edges. A hairless English-French bulldog mix was crowned as the winner of the 2025 'World's Ugliest Dog' contest. The 2-year-old pup named Petunia and her owner, Shannon Nyman, walked away with the top prize at the Sonoma County Fair event in Santa Rosa, California, on Aug. 8. Advertisement 5 Petunia celebrates winning first place in the World's Ugliest Dog Contest. AP Photo/Noah Berger Petunia won the $5,000 grand prize, beating out 10 other unconventional canines, including an 8-year-old Chinese Crested named Little Prince Wonder and a 13-year-old chihuahua named Nezumi. In addition to the cash prize, Petunia will also be featured on limited-edition cans of Mug Root Beer, one of the sponsors of the canine event, and will appear on the 'TODAY' show on Aug. 11, the New York Times reported. Advertisement 'I think she's feeling great,' Nyman said on TODAY. 'She loves all the attention, she loves all the affection, all the humans petting her.' 5 A 2-year-old pup named Petunia and her owner, Shannon Nyman, walked away with the top prize. REUTERS/Carlos Barria Petunia's personality is described as a 'gentle soul who adores other dogs, cats and people,' according to the Times. And her looks are described as '… a mix between Yoda, she's a mix between a hippo, a bat — she's got it all,' NBC News correspondent Gadi Schwartz said on TODAY. Advertisement The pooch was rescued from 'the chaos of a backyard breeder and order' in Las Vegas before being moved to Oregon by Luvable Dog Rescue. Once in Oregon, Petunia got the medical care she badly needed, including a spay and a surgery to correct an elongated palate, which makes breathing difficult and painful. Petunia sadly doesn't have any hair because of her original breeder's unethical practices. 5 Petunia and owner Shannon Nyman were awarded $5,000. AP Photo/Noah Berger Advertisement The World's Ugliest Dog Contest has been going on for nearly 50 years and 'celebrates the imperfections that make all dogs special and unique,' according to the event's website. 'The annual World's Ugliest Dog Contest is not about making fun of 'ugly' dogs, but having fun with some wonderful characters and showing the world that these dogs are really beautiful!' the site said. 5 Jinny Lu, a 5-year-old pug who was rescued from Korea, won second place and a spirit award. AP Photo/Noah Berger Many of the dogs entered in the contest have been rescued from shelters and puppy mills, the organizers said. 'The contest speaks to the importance of advocating for the adoration of all animals and the benefits of adopting.' In this competition, the unique features of some pups, such as wild fur, missing teeth, dangling tongues and wandering eyes are badges of honor to wear proudly. 5 Little Prince Wonder, an 8-year-old Chinese Crested, competed in the World's Ugliest Dog Contest. AP Photo/Noah Berger Advertisement In 2024, the top spot went to Wild Thang, an 8-year-old Pekingese with a dangling tongue, who had been competing for five years before running away with the crown. Wild Thang survived distemper as a puppy and his teeth didn't grow in properly, which caused his silly tongue — a feature he was known and loved for. One of his front legs also constantly paddles around.
Indianapolis Star
11-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Indianapolis Star
Winner of the 2025 'World's Ugliest Dog' contest is crowned: Meet Petunia
A hairless English-French bulldog mix is now the world's ugliest dog. Meet Petunia, the 2-year-old pooch crowned the winner of the World's Ugliest Dog contest at the Sonoma-Marin Fair on Friday, Aug. 8. The grounds are about 40 miles north of San Francisco. The annual contest, which judges canines on their extracurricular activities and not-so-cute appearances, helps pet shelters find animals forever homes. According to its website, the contest has taken place for nearly five decades and many of the contestants "have been rescued from shelters and puppy mills, to find loving homes in the hands of those willing to adopt." "Dogs of all breeds and sizes have warmed our hearts and filled our lives with unconditional love," the site reads. "This world-renowned event celebrates the imperfections that make all dogs special and unique." Last year's World's Ugliest Dog contest winner was Wild Thang, a then 8-year-old Pekingese from Oregon. More dog news: 'Hilarious' video shows toddler, black lab left perplexed after ball vanishes during fetch The fair announced Petunia took home the first-place trophy, according to The New York Times and ABC7 in San Francisco. Petunia lives in Oregon with her owner, Shannon Nyman, both outlets reported, adding rescuers first found the dog "in the chaos of a backyard breeder and hoarder" in Las Vegas. Luvable Dog Rescue, a non-profit organization in Oregon, relocated her. "She's the most wrinkled 2-year-old I have ever seen," one of the judges told the TV station. Her imperfections earned her $5,000 as well as being featured on upcoming limited-edition cans of MUG Root Beer, one of the contest sponsors. After winning the title, the pooch also appeared live on "Today" on Monday, Aug. 11, alongside handler Shannon Nyman. USA TODAY has reached out to contest officials and Nyman for comment.
