Arizona pooch finishes in third place at World’s Ugliest Dog contest

PHOENIX – An Arizona dog was ugly, but not ugly enough.

Josie, a Chinese Crested mix from Tucson, was no match for Zsa Zsa the English bulldog at the 2018 World’s Ugliest Dog contest.

Zsa Zsa’s owner, Megan Brainard of Anoka, Minnesota, took home the $1,500 top prize.

Josie, owned by Linda Elmquist, claimed third place in the 14-pooch field.

The event was held Saturday night at the Sonoma-Marin Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds in Petaluma, California.

According to the contest website, Brainerd got the 9-year-old Zsa Zsa from a rescue organization.

Dogs in the annual competition flaunt their imperfections – some have hairless bodies, others have lolling tongues. The dogs and their handlers walk down a red carpet. The dogs are evaluated by a panel of judges.

The contest is in its 30th year. It is usually held on Friday nights, but organizers moved the competition to Saturday in an effort to draw a bigger audience.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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