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Lifestyle & Human Interest

'World's Ugliest Dog' Dies One Month After Winning Title

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One of the wonderful things about dogs is that there’s something out there for everyone. Want a dog big enough to roughhouse with and keep you safe? Get a Great Dane.

Want something tiny that you can fuss over and fits under the seat in front of you on a plane? A chihuahua, rat terrier or Shih Tzu would be perfect.

Long hair, short hair, curly hair, straight hair: The variety in coat type and color alone is astounding, but dogs vary in their build as well.

One of the sadder instances is when a dog is clearly a product of careless or otherwise poorly planned breeding. When people are more interested in breeding a product than improving a line of dogs, the results often include deformities.



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Zsa Zsa was one of these cases. English bulldogs are already on the extreme end of the body type spectrum with their flattened faces, barrel chests and turned-out front legs, but Zsa Zsa was part of a puppy mill operation.

After spending the first half of her life in those conditions, she was rescued and found her way into the hearts of Megan and Jesse Brainard.

They knew they had a one-of-a-kind pup, and this year they decided to prove it by making the drive from Missouri to California to participate in the 2018 World’s Ugliest Dog competition.

Zsa Zsa ended up being crowned the winner on June 23, earning a large trophy and a $1,500 cash prize.



But on Tuesday, the 9-year-old dog breathed her last.

“She’s been staying over at my dad’s house,” Megan said. “He woke up this morning and found her passed away.”

“I’m still in shock … It’s kind of like when she won. It’s been two weeks and I still don’t believe it,” she continued. “It’s probably going to be the same with her passing.”

The Brainards held a small goodbye for their beloved pup, and even Mareslie, their 15-month-old daughter, joined in to pay her respects.

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“I picked Zsa Zsa up and took her outside and laid her down in the grass. We were all saying our goodbyes and Mareslie went right over and gave her a kiss. It was sweet. She was waving at her.”

“She knew she was special,” Megan said of Zsa Zsa. “She never really showed much excitement but yes, she was definitely living it up after she won … We take millions of pictures in my family, so now we have her face everywhere to remind us of her.”

Fortunately for Zsa Zsa, she was able to spend the second half of her life with a loving family who prized her looks and attitude, and she even got to experience a little taste of fame before making her way to doggy heaven.

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