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World's Ugliest Dog contest winner dies
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Jinny Lu, a 6-year-old pug rescue, won the World's Ugliest Dog Contest on Aug 14, 2026. The win highlights that every dog deserves love regardless of looks.
Background
The World's Ugliest Dog Contest is an annual event held at the Sonoma County Fair in Santa Rosa, California, celebrating its 50th year. It promotes dog adoptions and celebrates the imperfections that make dogs special. Jinny Lu, a rescue from South Korea's dog meat market, had been runner-up in 2025 and competed four times before winning.
How it unfolded
- Aug 14, 2026Jinny Lu, a 6-year-old pug rescue, wins the World's Ugliest Dog Contest at the Sonoma County Fair in Santa Rosa, California, beating seven other contestants.
- Aug 15, 2026News outlets report the win, noting Jinny Lu's background as a rescue from South Korea's dog meat market and her owner's statement.
- Aug 16, 2026Photos of the contest and winners are published, showing Jinny Lu celebrating first place.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- The contest promotes dog adoptions and celebrates 'the imperfections that make all dogs special and unique.'
- Owner
- Michelle Grady said Jinny Lu 'absolutely loves competition, meeting everyone, and everything the event stands for.'
Still unverified
The claim that Jinny Lu was rescued from a dog meat market is based on her owner's account and contest biography, not independently verified.