Post by Brooke on Jan 21, 2004 17:59:47 GMT -5
Not-so-pretty pooches vie for pageant title in Ugly Dog Contest
Sunday, August 17, 2003
By DAVE BREITENSTEIN, debreitenstein@naplesnews.com
Not all dogs are created equal; some are just downright hideous.
The worst of the worst put on an ugly pageant Saturday at the fourth annual Ugly Dog Contest at Flamingo Island Flea Market in Bonita Springs. The canine breeds generally considered ugly by their human counterparts — Chinese Shar-Peis, Chinese crested hairless, English bulldogs and pugs — drew their share of double-takes.
But a 6-year-old boxer mix had a life story just about as sad as he looked. Lucky, a 105-pound pooch from Naples, was viciously attacked by his grandmother when he was just 2 weeks old, suffering a lacerated tongue, split lip, damaged eyes and head injuries. Then, when he was fetching the newspaper a year later, he broke his hind leg after being hit by a car, requiring major bone reconstruction surgery that left more scars and made walking difficult. To top off his tough childhood, he was neutered shortly thereafter.
The slobber story, make that, sob story, was enough to convince a panel of five judges that he was indeed downright ugly.
"His name was Lucky," said owner C.H. Smith. "I call him Hound Dog now because he hasn't really been that lucky."
Just for good measure, though, the drooling dog decided to waddle behind a group of children sitting alongside the stage. He then shook his head side to side, with droplets of gooey drool spraying out five feet in all directions. At that point, the competition was his, paws down.
The annual contest, sponsored by Paws, Claws and Tails, drew 30 dogs and about 200 spectators. Rich and Judy Thompson drove from Sanibel to watch the pageant, although their two Yorkshire terriers were too good looking to enter. Lucky was their favorite dog, but they hesitate to use the word "ugly" to describe contestants.
"They are all cute — in their own way," Rich Thompson said. "But who couldn't love them?"
A Pekinese, Shar-Pei and English bulldog have won previous competitions, so all four champions represent different breeds.
Second-place winner Fat Boy, an English bulldog, has been in the ugly dog competition before, but never placed. This year, though, he dressed in a black tuxedo and wooed the judges with his heftiness.
"He put on some weight, too, so that might have helped," said owner Bob Waldron.
Zippy, a 13-year-old Chinese crested hairless that has placed second and fourth in previous contests, finished third on Saturday.
"She always seems to be runner-up," said owner Kelly Smith of Naples, who had Zippy's photo printed on a dozen T-shirts for fans in her cheering section. "Maybe next year she'll be uglier."
For his effort, Lucky won a 2-foot-tall trophy with rawhide bone affixed on its top, in addition to a year's supply of dog food from Paws, Claws and Tails, a $100 gift certificate from Flamingo Island Flea Market and a goody bag from Groomingdales. Second- and third-place winners also received trophies and prizes from the three businesses. All participants took home $10 worth of gift certificates.
Sunday, August 17, 2003
By DAVE BREITENSTEIN, debreitenstein@naplesnews.com
Not all dogs are created equal; some are just downright hideous.
The worst of the worst put on an ugly pageant Saturday at the fourth annual Ugly Dog Contest at Flamingo Island Flea Market in Bonita Springs. The canine breeds generally considered ugly by their human counterparts — Chinese Shar-Peis, Chinese crested hairless, English bulldogs and pugs — drew their share of double-takes.
But a 6-year-old boxer mix had a life story just about as sad as he looked. Lucky, a 105-pound pooch from Naples, was viciously attacked by his grandmother when he was just 2 weeks old, suffering a lacerated tongue, split lip, damaged eyes and head injuries. Then, when he was fetching the newspaper a year later, he broke his hind leg after being hit by a car, requiring major bone reconstruction surgery that left more scars and made walking difficult. To top off his tough childhood, he was neutered shortly thereafter.
The slobber story, make that, sob story, was enough to convince a panel of five judges that he was indeed downright ugly.
"His name was Lucky," said owner C.H. Smith. "I call him Hound Dog now because he hasn't really been that lucky."
Just for good measure, though, the drooling dog decided to waddle behind a group of children sitting alongside the stage. He then shook his head side to side, with droplets of gooey drool spraying out five feet in all directions. At that point, the competition was his, paws down.
The annual contest, sponsored by Paws, Claws and Tails, drew 30 dogs and about 200 spectators. Rich and Judy Thompson drove from Sanibel to watch the pageant, although their two Yorkshire terriers were too good looking to enter. Lucky was their favorite dog, but they hesitate to use the word "ugly" to describe contestants.
"They are all cute — in their own way," Rich Thompson said. "But who couldn't love them?"
A Pekinese, Shar-Pei and English bulldog have won previous competitions, so all four champions represent different breeds.
Second-place winner Fat Boy, an English bulldog, has been in the ugly dog competition before, but never placed. This year, though, he dressed in a black tuxedo and wooed the judges with his heftiness.
"He put on some weight, too, so that might have helped," said owner Bob Waldron.
Zippy, a 13-year-old Chinese crested hairless that has placed second and fourth in previous contests, finished third on Saturday.
"She always seems to be runner-up," said owner Kelly Smith of Naples, who had Zippy's photo printed on a dozen T-shirts for fans in her cheering section. "Maybe next year she'll be uglier."
For his effort, Lucky won a 2-foot-tall trophy with rawhide bone affixed on its top, in addition to a year's supply of dog food from Paws, Claws and Tails, a $100 gift certificate from Flamingo Island Flea Market and a goody bag from Groomingdales. Second- and third-place winners also received trophies and prizes from the three businesses. All participants took home $10 worth of gift certificates.