DES MOINES, Iowa -- A 2-year-old pup once destined to be euthanized was crowned the winner of Sunday's "Beautiful Bulldog Contest" at Drake University.
The 39th annual tongue-in-cheek pageant for English bulldogs, Drake's mascot, is the unofficial start to this week's Drake Relays track meet.
This year's champion, "Bow-Z," hails from nearby Pella, Iowa. She was set to be put down as a puppy because of various physical ailments but was re-routed to a no-kill shelter instead.
Bow-Z beat a field of 40 slobbering bulldogs -- most of which were decked out in outlandish costumes -- with names like Rocky, Tucker and Beau.
The Drake Relays being in earnest on Thursday and wrap up on Saturday.
Congratulations to this year’s #BeautifulBulldog Contest winner, Bow-Z! This two-year-old beauty was adopted by John Hill of Pella, Iowa, last summer. Bow-Z will be the official mascot of the 2018 @DrakeRelays! #MyDrakeRelays pic.twitter.com/HQE42Rfe6s
— Drake University (@DrakeUniversity) April 22, 2018