Latest news with #LuvableDogRescue
Time of India
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Hairless bulldog named Petunia steals the world's ugliest dog crown, and set to appear on Mug Root Beer cans
Petunia's journey to international fame is the kind of glow-up story you do not see coming. The two-year-old bald beauty from Eugene, Oregon, just claimed the top spot at the 2025 World's Ugliest Dog contest, held at the Sonoma County Fair in Santa Rosa, California. And yes, her victory came with a cool $5,000 prize, bragging rights for life, and her face immortalised on special-edition Mug Root Beer cans. Petunia's journey, from a rescue pup to pageant holder Petunia's road to glory was far from glamorous. She was rescued from what insiders described as 'chaos,' a backyard breeder and hoarder situation in Las Vegas. Brought to Oregon by Luvable Dog Rescue, she received essential medical care, including a spay and corrective surgery for an elongated palate, which made breathing a struggle. Despite her rough start, Petunia has been called a gentle soul who adores everyone, dogs, cats, and humans alike. Beating the best (or ugliest) of the best This year's competition was no walk in the park. Petunia outshined 10 eccentric challengers, including Little Prince Wonder, an 8-year-old Chinese Crested with high-fashion energy, and Nezumi, a 13-year-old Chihuahua with sass for days. Judges were tasked with celebrating the quirks, wrinkles, and 'unique beauty' of each contestant, because in this arena, imperfection reigns supreme. The ugly crown with a beautiful purpose Running for nearly 50 years, the World's Ugliest Dog contest is not just a quirky headline, it is a celebration of rescue animals and a reminder that a pedigree does not define a pet's worth. Many competitors are adopted from shelters or saved from puppy mills, making the stage as much about awareness as it is about applause. Petunia's win means more than a trophy. Her image will soon pop up on limited-edition Mug Root Beer cans, turning her into a four-legged pop culture icon. She is also set to appear on the Today show, officially cementing her status as the ugly-cute queen of 2025. And as far as we are concerned, that is one crown she wears perfectly, hair or no hair.
Hindustan Times
a day 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
a day 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
2 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.
Indianapolis Star
3 days ago
- 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.
