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»Mr Happy Face«, the ugliest dog in the world.
Photo: Josh Edelson/AFP
A single tuft of hair, bulging eyes and a crooked tongue: A 17-year-old Chinese Crested mix has been voted the ugliest dog in the world in California.
The dog, who was named "Mr Happy Face" by his owner Jeneda Benally, needs a diaper and can barely walk.
A vet had estimated he had six weeks to live, but she's had him for ten months, Benally told The Press Democrat.
At the time, she asked the animal shelter for the "oldest and most difficult to place" dog.
Benally lives in Arizona and is currently on a business trip in California. She spontaneously entered her dog for the competition.
"Mr Happy Face" defeated seven competitors to win $1,500 in prize money and an appearance on the NBC show "Today," which is taped in New York City.
The fun competition took place again on Friday evening (local time) for the first time after a two-year Corona break.
The jury attaches importance to everything that is considered unsightly: bulging eyes, crooked teeth, bowlegs, humped backs.
The organizers want to use the competition to promote the taking in of abandoned animals.
You want to remind "that all dogs are adorable".
vet/dpa