Mr. Happy Face Wins the 2022 World’s Ugliest Dog Contest
Mr. Happy Face, a 17-year-old Chinese crested-Chihuahua mix, took home first place this year at the World’s Ugliest Dog Contest.
After a two-year break due to the pandemic, the World’s Ugliest Dog Contest is up and running again in Petaluma, California. This annual contest takes place during the Sonoma-Marin fair, typically during the fourth week of June.
On Friday, June 24th, Mr. Happy Face was crowned the winner of the competition after its two-year hiatus. Mr. Happy Face’s guardian Janeda Banelly adopted the unique mutt in August 2021 from a shelter in Arizona after he was rescued from a hoarder’s home.
The World’s Ugliest Dog Contest has been going on since the 1970s and became a part of the Sonoma-Marin Fair in 1988. The contestant dogs generally come from the United States, but they are welcome from around the world.
The Sonoma-Marin Fair has partnered with the Sonoma County Humane Society to educate the public about rescue animals and to provide opportunities to adopt. Here are some reasonswhy you should adopt from local dog shelters and help a dog in need.