Winner Wild Thang visits TODAY

If at first you don’t succeed, strive, strive, strive, strive once more.

That’s the message from the proprietor of Wild Thang, the newly topped winner of the World’s Ugliest Canine contest, who lastly gained after 5 years of coming into the competitors.

The 8-year-old Pekingese didn’t place in his first go-round within the contest, after which adopted it up with a trio of second-place finishes, earlier than claiming this 12 months’s title on June 21 in Petaluma, California.

“He received second three years in a row, first 12 months nothing. So then three years in a row, he received second and we had been like, ‘Let’s simply go once more as a result of it’s a lot enjoyable. And if not, we’ll return the following 12 months,’” his proprietor, Ann Lewis advised TODAY on June 24.

“Even ugly is gorgeous,” she added.

Lewis additionally mentioned Wild Thang, who loves ice cream, ice and other people, is having fun with his newfound fame, enduring a ton of consideration throughout his journey to New York Metropolis — together with on the airport.

“We received bombarded. He was simply loving it,” she mentioned. “He was wagging his tail. He was comfortable. He was getting head photographs with individuals.”

The canine was born and raised in Los Angeles and lately retired to North Bend, Oregon, based on his bio on Sonoma-Marin Truthful’s web site. Wild Thang contracted distemper as a pet from a rescue foster.

“He survived, however not with out everlasting harm,” his bio says. “His enamel didn’t develop in, inflicting his tongue to remain out and his proper entrance leg paddles 24/7.”

Aside from the bodily points, Wild Thang is “a wholesome, comfortable Glugly (glamorous/ugly) man,” his bio reads.

He and Lewis took residence a $5,000 verify.

NBC Information’ Gadi Schwartz helped choose the 2024 contest, together with Linda Witong Abrahm, Brian Sobel, Amy Gutierrez, Fiona Ma.

Final 12 months, a hairless Chinese language Crested pup named Scooter took residence the title. Scooter was born with deformed again legs and changed into animal management for euthanasia by his breeder. He was rescued by the Saving Animals From Euthanasia (SAFE) rescue group, which his proprietor is a member of, and now makes use of a cart to assist him stroll.

The competition has been happening for practically 50 years, based on the web site of Sonoma-Marin Truthful, the place the occasion takes place. The annual competitors focuses on celebrating the individuality of all canines and the advantages of adopting.

“The annual World’s Ugliest Canine Contest just isn’t about making enjoyable of ‘ugly’ canines,” the web site reads. “However having enjoyable with some great characters and displaying the world that these canines are actually stunning!”