The ugliest dog of 2024 was chosen in the USA (7 photos + 1 video)
The annual "World's Ugliest Dog" contest has ended in California, and the five finalists literally look like us at the end of the work week. 
The World's Ugliest Dog contest has been running for nearly 50 years and "celebrates the flaws that make all dogs special and unique," according to its website.
The winner was an 8-year-old Pekingese named Wild Thang (1 photo). As a child, he suffered from the plague, which caused his teeth to stop growing and his appearance to appear strange.
He has competed in the world's ugliest dog competition five times in the past, but this is his first win.
Last year he took second place, but this year was more successful for him.
He and his owner won $5,000 and a spot on a TV show.
The Dog is, of course, colorful, but he also had very worthy opponents.
A 14-year-old pug named Rome took second place and received a $3,000 prize. This was Rome's first participation in the competition.
Third place finisher Daisy May is a 14-year-old dog who is now enjoying her life, but didn't have it easy at first. She fell on hard times at the age of two and over the years lost her hair, teeth and eyesight. She was also said to live in a cat gang.
Throughout his life, the dog defied the odds and found a loving family.
A 14 year old Brussels Griffon/Pug mix named Freddie Mercury. Freddie Mercury did not win a prize this year in his debut at the event, but is the official mascot of a local ice cream truck in Petaluma and often appears at local birthday parties as well as youth sporting events.
A dog named Ziggy Devito.
Another participant in the competition is a dog named Cadence II.
According to the competition, it's not about making fun of "ugly" dogs, but rather "having fun with great characters and showing the world that these dogs are truly beautiful."
