World's Ugliest Dog Zsa Zsa Passes Away Only Two Weeks After Winning the Title
Zsa Zsa, the reigning World's Ugliest Dog winner, has passed away at the age of nine. Known for her tongue that sticks out, adorable snaggletooth, and bright pink manicure, she won the competition just two and a half weeks ago.
The English bulldog died in her sleep early Tuesday morning, her owner Megan Brainard told the Today show. Zsa Zsa didn't have any health problems that her owner knew of. "She’s been staying over at my dad’s house. He woke up this morning and found her passed away," Brainard said. She called the loss "devastating."
Brainard and her husband have been "processing" Zsa Zsa's death together, even though they're still in shock.
"I’m still in shock ... It’s kind of like when she won (the World's Ugliest Dog contest). It’s been two weeks and I still don’t believe it. It’s probably going to be the same with her passing," she said.
When the dog's body was returned home, Brainard, along with her husband and 15-month-old daughter, held a farewell ceremony for her.
"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," Brainard said.
Zsa Zsa spent the first five years of her life in a puppy mill before the profit Underdog Rescue saved her. Brainard adopted her after she found her on PetFinder.com.
Brainard drove 30 hours from her home in Minnesota to bring Zsa Zsa to the competition, which she obviously won, beating out a terrier named Scamp that had dreadlocks and smelled "questionable." Brainard said that after the victory, Zsa Zsa was soaking in the glory for the last two and a half weeks.
"She knew she was special. She never really showed much excitement but yes, she was definitely living it up after she won," she said.
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