In fact, there are all kinds of contests around the world. Just a few days ago, we shared with everyone a beauty pageant, which, as the name suggests, is about choosing the most beautiful and prettiest contestant! But did you know there's also a contest that takes the opposite route—the "ugliest" competition? Recently, in the UK, a "World's Ugliest Dog Contest" was held, where dogs brought by their owners to compete each had their own unique style.
Among this year's contestants, one dog stood out the most and even became the subject of international media coverage. This dog is named Peggy, a mixed breed of Pug and Chinese Crested. Peggy has recently become the focus of pet news overseas. According to interviews with her owner, Peggy was adopted when she was only six months old. At that time, all the other dogs had found new homes, but Peggy was left alone in the shelter.
Holly, Peggy's owner, recalled feeling very sad when she first saw Peggy, but was also drawn to her unique appearance. So she decided to adopt this one-of-a-kind dog. Because Peggy's "aged" look reminded Holly of an elder family member, she named the dog after that relative—Peggy.
After coming to her new home, Peggy received unprecedented warmth and love. The whole family adored her and never felt any dislike because of her looks. She quickly won everyone's hearts to the point that whenever they held Peggy, they were reluctant to let her go, even needing to schedule time just to spend with her.
Later, when Holly had a child, the couple entrusted part of their babysitting duties to Peggy. The dog grew up alongside the child, sharing their lives intimately. Whether playing at home, sleeping, or traveling, the child and Peggy were inseparable—often squeezing into the same car seat together.
At home, Peggy is very well-behaved—quiet and calm. Her favorite way to relax is lying on the sofa, tongue stretched out, looking like a little tipsy drunkard. Despite her unusual appearance, her family believes Peggy's greatest charm is her beauty. However, her sparse hair requires special care. For example, in winter, she needs sweaters or jackets to keep warm, and in summer, sunscreen is applied to protect her from sunburn.
One of the most troublesome issues Peggy faces is pseudopregnancy, a condition that often leaves pet owners feeling overwhelmed. This phenomenon affects dogs physically and can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and swollen mammary glands. Besides impacting her health, these physiological changes also alter Peggy's appearance.
Because Peggy is "evolving" now, her owner Holly decided to enter her in this year's ugliest dog contest. But it's not that Peggy suddenly became this way to join the competition. In fact, Holly had taken Peggy to many beauty contests before, though they never won.
Holly knows Peggy's appearance very well. Although the family loves her dearly, they understand that outsiders might not see Peggy as beautiful. So whether entering beauty or ugliness contests, the goal isn't necessarily to win awards—it's simply to take Peggy out to have fun and enjoy some time together.
