A charming pet named Scooter is voted the “world’s ugliest dog”: he was adopted when his previous owner wanted to put him down

To the long list that Zsa Zsa, Elwood, Mugly led a few years ago, Peanut joins this 2023 scooter, Mr. Happy Face (“Mr. Happy Face”) will receive the “command” to be chosen as “The World’s Ugliest Dog.

That title, which not everyone will like, is contested by dozens of puppies in an annual contest in California, United States.

The contest rewards animals for their “unique” characteristics, for charitable purposes, CNN en Español recalls, and the 2023 winner is “Scooter,” a 7-year-old Chinese crested dog.

The adorable Scooter shared the honors with Wild Thang, a 7-year-old Pekingese, who took second place, and third place went to a 16-year-old chihuahua with the mighty name of Harold Bartholomew, according to Semana.

‘Mr. Happy Face’ is the new ugliest dog in the world

How’s the new ugliest dog in the world doing?

In the competition, when the prize was presented, the dog with little fur – just a few locks – was brought to the podium by its owner, Linda Celeste Elmquist.

The woman never tired of displaying her pet and was photographed with her tongue out, just like her winning pet.

Scooter has damage to his muzzle, his back legs are deformed (they are inverted, says Azteca Morelos), and at one point they thought it would be best for him to sacrifice him. But he had an angel, in Linda, who rescued him in Tucson and took him home.

The current owner, adds Infobae, “met him in the rescue group Saving Animals From Euthanasia (SAFE) and from then on he became his faithful companion.”

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a lovely dog

The puppy won the jury who, according to what was reported in the Colombian publication, emphasized: “Scooter not only survives, but thrives. He has no idea that he is different from any other dog.”

At first it was a bit sad to see what condition it was in, but we realized how cute and loving that animal is.

Judge of the match quoted in Infobae

The dog knows how to move a little by drawing strength from its healthy legs. He’s a fighter. “It makes you feel love and inspiration for the differences, hardships, perseverance and happiness that radiates like a little heater,” one judge described.

Faced with criticism for rewarding an “ugly dog,” they recalled at Azteca Morelos that the intent of the Sonoma-Marin Fair contest in Petaluma, California, “is to promote puppy adoption.”