A three-year-old, 125-pound Neapolitan Mastiff has won the 29th annual World’s Ugliest Dog Contest.
Martha competed against more than a dozen other dogs to take the crown at the contest in Sonoma-Marin Fair on Saturday.
The dogs were judged on first impressions, unusual attributes, personality and audience reaction.
Her handler Shirley Zindler told CTV News Channel after the event that entering Martha into the contest was “kind of a last minute thing.”
Although, some may think it’s cruel to enter a dog into such a contest, Zindler says it’s actually all about promoting rescuing and adopting dogs that aren’t “traditionally beautiful.”
“The dogs don’t care whether you call them ugly or beautiful,” she said. “The dogs are very well cared for. They’re pampered, they have loving homes, and as an animal control officer and rescuer that’s all I can really ask for.”
Zindler says Martha, from Sebastopol, California, was rescued by the Dogwood Animal Rescue Project in Sonoma County when she was nearly blind from chronic neglect.
After undergoing several surgeries, Martha can see again out of one eye and is no longer in pain.
The wrinkly and drool-covered rescue pup beat out the more traditional winners of old, tiny and hairless dogs to claim top prize of U.S. $1,500 along with a trophy and a trip to New York.
“I think the crowd and the judges were ready for something a little more different, a little more unique,” she said.
Zindler says the prize money will go to help rescue other dogs.
With files from the Associated Press
