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Redwood City resident Pinky has a beauty that you might call … unconventional. In fact, the senior mutt – an albino Pomeranian/Chihuahua mix with patchy fur, sensitive pink skin and a piglet-esque vibe – recently won second place in the World’s Ugliest Dog Contest, held on Aug. 14.
Pinky was entered into the long-running annual contest by his humans, Laura Brown and Ronald Cheng. Cheng read an article about last year’s competition and thought, “You know, Pinky looks more interesting than some of those dogs.” he said.
“We just thought it would be funny to enter. And we really didn’t think he would place at all. We just kind of did it for fun, so it was a nice surprise,” he said.
Pinky, who is estimated to be around 11 years old, was adopted about five years ago from local organization Pets in Need. Brown’s friend, who worked at the shelter, sent her a video of the pup. In addition to his albinism (a congenital condition that prevents the production of melanin), Pinky previously had mange, which led to some damaged follicles and permanent bald patches. When Brown saw him and heard his story, it was love at first sight.
“I was like, ‘Oh my God, he looks like a pig.’ And then his listing also said that he’s sensitive to the sun, and I’ve been sensitive to the sun my whole life,” Brown recalled. “He’s like me! He needs to wear sunscreen outside.’ And I just thought that was really nice.”
Pinky is indeed often mistaken for a pig, Brown and Cheng said (and, as if on cue, toward the end of this interview a passerby did confuse him for one). In personality, Cheng fondly described Pinky as “a grumpy old guy.” He can be playful, but he’s fairly independent and almost cat-like, “if a cat could bark at you,” Brown said with a laugh.
Brown volunteers with the animal fostering organization Companion Animal Community Center and has noticed that while more conventionally “cute” pups tend to get adopted quickly, she gravitates toward the others.
“I always really like the kind of weird-looking dogs. I have the most fun with them,” she said.
Of course, the use of the term “ugly” is meant lightheartedly. “Unique” is a better term to describe the looks of Pinky and his fellow contestants, Cheng and Brown said. The competition’s website puts it this way: “The World’s Ugliest Dog Contest isn’t about making fun of ‘ugly’ dogs – it’s about celebrating wonderful characters and showing the world that these dogs are truly beautiful!”
The contest aims to advocate for shelter dogs and pet adoption and has been running for 50 years, held at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds in Santa Rosa. It’s free to enter and, once Pinky’s application was accepted, he and his humans headed up north to walk the red carpet and answer a few questions from the judging panel.
“It’s not very much work on the dog’s part. It’s more work on the humans’ part,” Brown said.
“They seemed especially interested just in the dog sunscreen aspect, and then, him looking like a pig. So we think those are the two elements that helped him place,” Cheng said.
For his second-place finish, Pinky and family won a trophy, a $3,000 check and eternal bragging rights. Brown said Pinky was a bit tired out afterward but “was a really good boy,” and attracted plenty of attention at the fairgrounds (while wearing his sunscreen, of course).
Satisfied by the experience, Pinky plans to retire from the pageant circuit and not return next year to try again for the top prize, which comes with $5,000 and a trip to New York.
“It’s a lot to ask of a little dog,” Brown said. Cheng agreed. “It was a fun experience but, yeah, I think we’re good.”
