Why this competition is about much more than looks

Meet Jinny Lu. Six years old, spectacularly wrinkled, equipped with enormous eyes and a tongue that appears to have given up any intention of staying inside her mouth. She is also, officially, the World’s Ugliest Dog 2026.

Frankly, I think she’s gorgeous, but then I’m biased. Those who know me well know I also have my own rescue pug, Alice Pickle, Duchess of Pickleton. You can see her below.

But first, congratulations to Jinny Lu! She took the crown at the 50th annual World’s Ugliest Dog Contest at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds in California on 14 August. It was Jinny Lu’s fourth attempt at the title after coming second last year, and she and her owner Michelle Grady went home with a trophy and $5,000. Two other winners also notched up a great win – Pinky (left) came second and took home $3,000, and Otto (right) bagged himself $2,000. Congratulations to all.

But the name of the competition kinda disguises what it’s really about

The World’s Ugliest Dog Contest exists not to ridicule dogs, but to celebrate the wonky, unusual and frequently overlooked ones. And it’s a brilliant way to shine a light on this, which is why I’m writing about it. Many of its competitors have come from shelters, rescues or bad beginnings. And organisers use the event to promote adoption, compassion and acceptance.

Jinny Lu has quite a beginning of her own. She was found living in a wooden box in freezing weather in the mountains of South Korea. Pug Rescue of Korea and Pug Hotel, Senior Pug Sanctuary in California collaborated to bring her to safety, before Michelle adopted her around four years ago.

These days she has a rather different life. Alongside competing for international ugliness honours, Jinny Lu acts as a rescue ambassador, visiting primary schools and memory care facilities. Not bad for a little dog who once needed rescuing herself.

Rescue dogs often arrive with history

But adopting dogs has been amongst the most rewarding experiences of my life. You may need patience while they work out that this house is their house, these people are their people, and dinner really will appear again tomorrow. And it can take months. But watching a dog settle, learn to trust you, and start loving life properly is extraordinary.

There is also no shortage of dogs needing homes. Dogs Trust says it cared for 11,707 dogs through its UK and Irish rehoming centres in its latest reported year, finding new homes for 10,612 of them. More than 500 had waited longer than six months.

And adopting does not necessarily mean taking a complete gamble on an unknown animal. Established rescues assess dogs and work to match them with suitable homes. The RSPCA, for example, says its animals receive veterinary and behavioural assessments, while adopters can search according to factors including age, size and lifestyle needs.

Of course, not every rescue dog will suit every home. That is precisely why finding the right match matters. And there are breed-specific charities out there, so check that your rescue is well-established and well-run. My beloved Alice Pickle came from the Pug Dog Welfare and Rescue Association. But if you were keen on a pug, there are several excellent pug organisations, including Pug Rescue, and Rescue Pugs with Lily, which focuses on rescuing pugs and other dogs from kill shelters and the meat trade in China.

If you are thinking about adding a dog to your family, please look at the rescue organisations before you look at puppies for sale. Consider the older dog, the funny-looking one, the one with the dodgy teeth, or the tongue that refuses to behave.

You might not end up with the World’s Ugliest Dog – but you could just end up with the best dog in the world. I know I did.

Read more: Is your dog bored? Canine enrichment activities you can do