Scooter: Winner of world's ugliest dog contest is cuteness overload for owner
"Aside from his deformity, is just like any other dog and loves braunschweiger sausage," says the owner
June 25, 2023
In the competition for the world’s ugliest dog, a Chinese crested canine was named the winner of the contest with an award of $1,500 and a trophy.
The seven-year-old dog named Scooter was born with dysfunctional rear legs and was adopted by Linda Celeste Elmquist, who was in the rescue group Saving Animals From Euthanasia (SAFE) — responsible for saving Scooter.
According to Today, "a man in the group first adopted Scooter and kept him for about seven years. During that time Elmquist kept checking on Scooter and took him for medical assistance."
After the person was unable to take care of Scooter further, Elmquist adopted him and has had him for seven months.
His owner said that Scooter walks on his front legs since he was a pup and as he gets older he tires easily. He rests on his back legs.
His owner also noted: "Because his feet are backwards when he goes to the bathroom it lands on his feet — but Scooter just flings it up in the air."
After being evaluated by a physical therapist, he got a cart. It took some time for Scooter to adjust, but now he moves faster and can do things better than before like sniffing his surroundings.
Elmquist said: "Aside from his deformity, is just like any other dog and loves braunschweiger sausage."
Gadi Schwartz who was the judge celebrated Scooter’s win, telling Today.com that it was "so perfectly deserved!"
“From the second he sits his hairless little booty and backward legs on your lap, you feel his warm, huggable power to change the meaning of the word ugly!” Schwartz says.
"He leaves you feeling love and inspiration for the differences, difficulties, perseverance and happiness that he radiates like a little heater! Even when he’s gone you can’t help but smile thinking of that sideways tongue hanging out his tiny precious mouth. [He also smells so much sweeter than he looks!]."
"Many of the contestant dogs have been rescued from shelters and puppy mills, to find loving homes in the hands of those willing to adopt," according to the contest's website.
"Please join us in raising awareness and support for the pets yet to be placed in a loving home."
