The Popcorn Stand: Ugly dog in the eye of the beholder

I keep writing this but those of you who choose to read this Popcorn Stand know I will use any excuse to write about my dog, Tuf Tuf (you know Sir Tuffington something or other) the Jack Russell.

Today is National Ugliest Dog Day. I love National Ugliest Dog Day.

And there’s a National Ugliest Dog contest. Actually it’s the World’s Ugliest Dog Contest. Sadly due to COVID-19, the 2020 World’s Ugliest Dog Contest which was to be held on Friday, June 26 was canceled.

I have no idea why the World’s Ugliest Dog Contest wasn’t scheduled to be held today, National Ugliest Dog Day, but it’s still sad the contest had to be canceled no matter when it was going to be held.

I have to admit I’m biased when I say I think Tuf Tuf is a pretty good looking dog (he’s a pure bred after all), so he wouldn’t qualify for the National Ugliest Dog contest.

If there was some kind of “the most annoying lovable dog there’s ever been” contest, Tuf Tuf would definitely be a contender for that title. I mean Tuf Tuf can be one annoying dog. But the little guy is just so lovable.

And even though the World’s Ugliest Dog Contest had to be canceled, its actual purpose still remains quite worthy. The motto of the contest is “Advocate, Adopt, Adore.”

The contest’s website states: “We encourage fans of the World’s Ugliest Dog Contest to adopt, and to support the animal rescue organization of their choice, because every animal deserves a loving home.”

And really the dogs that have competed in the World’s Ugliest Dog Contest aren’t really ugly at all. They’re absolutely adorable.

I absolutely adore any so called “ugly” dog that may not exactly have the perfect face. When I come a cross one of these so-called “ugly” dogs I just find them to be absolutely adorable.

In sports there’s the term “winning ugly,” basically referring to how a team doesn’t play so well, but still manages to win. Well in the World’s Ugliest Dog Contest, these dogs actually do win ugly.

And winning ugly takes persistence. Like the 2019 Ugliest Dog Winner, Scamp the Tramp, who’s actually the cutest thing you’ll ever see.

Of course once Scamp the Tramp won, the dog’s name was changed to Scamp the Champ. And Scamp the Champ has a lengthy resume, including working as a therapy dog, a reading dog for a first grade class and greeting passengers at the Sonoma County Airport.

But my favorite service Scamp has provided has been representing the Humane Society of Sonoma County in a kissing booth.

So maybe Scamp was the sentimental favorite in 2019. After all it was his fourth time in the competition. He finished as the runner-up in 2018 and finally made it to the top in 2019.

So even though Scamp finally won, he’s really a testament to what Grantland Rice once wrote, sort of: “It’s not whether you win or lose, it’s how ugly you are.”

Sometimes winning ugly is the most beautiful thing there is.