By Tim Binnall
A Chinese Crested canine named Scooter is sitting pretty after being crowned the World's Ugliest Dog for 2023. The animal reportedly took home the top prize last Friday afternoon at the annual celebration for unsightly pooches held at the Sonoma-Marin Fair in Petaluma, California. Born seven years ago with a pair of deformed back legs, Scooter was originally set to be euthanized before being rescued by an animal welfare group which sought to prevent such an untimely and unfortunate fate befalling the creature. The dog was ultimately taken in by his owner, Linda Elmquist, who provided him a loving home as well as a special cart that allows him to travel with relative ease.
At Friday's event, the curious-looking canine stole the hearts of the competition's attendees and judges by way of his his unique appearance, which includes a wild shock of white hair atop his head and a protruding tongue as well as his inspirational backstory. In winning the contest, Scooter was awarded a $1,500 prize, a trophy, an appearance on the Today Show, and, of course, bragging rights as this year's World's Ugliest Dog. While the long-running contest may sound somewhat cruel in nature, the competition is actually aimed at celebrating the creatures' imperfections and raising awareness about animal adoption. With his victory, Scooter joins previous winners Mr. Happy Face, Scamp the Tramp, and Sweepee Rambo in the proverbial circle of ugly champions.