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While his owners do not feel he is an ugly dog, Cosmo, pictured, can compromise his looks at times--or maybe his lips and teeth work against him. Either way, he is loved, even in his uglier moments.
By Nila Harris
When I was a self-proclaimed Butler Brat, we had a mutt named Mouser (as I’m writing this, I must wonder why we named a DOG Mouser; must’ve been my sister’s idea). Mouser was a small brown crossbreed of who knows what. At the same time, my friend across the street, Rhonda Combs, had a registered bulldog with about four names on his papers. My sister Julie and I dubbed our mongrel Monsieur Mouser La Poo-poo.
As I became aware of Ugliest Dog Day on June 20th, I thought of Mouser (he had the “look” only an owner could love). This day originated in the United States in the early 2000s but is now celebrated internationally. It was created to “raise awareness about rescue dogs and to promote the adoption of animals with unconventional appearances.” allworldday.com Many rescue dogs may not be considered cute or cuddly by most standards, which makes it more difficult for these dogs to find their forever homes. Society often dictates what is handsome or attractive, and proponents of this day attempt to strike against those societal norms.
On Ugliest Dog Day, you may want to adopt an unconventional canine. Snap photos of your dog’s mug and post it on social media with #ugliestdogday2023. Watch the documentary Worst in Show and meet the dog Rascal—a dog winning the most Ugliest Dog titles. Or check out the book World’s Ugliest Dogs from the Pendleton County Public Library. Regardless of how you spend Ugliest Dog Day, remember this quote from an unknown source: “In a world that values superficial beauty, dogs teach us the true meaning of acceptance.”