A day for underdogs as furry misfits walk the red carpet and vie for top honours
The contestants were judged on first impressions, unusual attributes, personality and audience reaction
A 125-pound gentle giant named Martha has been crowned the winner of the World’s Ugliest Dog Contest.
The gassy Neapolitan Mastiff was a favourite of the Northern California crowd from the start at the Friday night contest, often plopping down on her side on stage.
She was rescued when she was nearly blind, but after several surgeries can see again, according to her handler Shirley Zindler.
She waddles away with US$1,500, a flashy trophy and a trip to New York for media appearances, all things she could hardly care less about.
The homely hounds and their humans arrived hours before the show to socialise and size up the competition, where dog lovers celebrate the imperfections of man’s best friend.
Many of the contestants were adopted. Monkey, a six-year-old Brussel Griffon, and Icky, an eight-year-old unknown breed, were both rescued from a hoarding situation.
