Mr. Happy Face, a gremlin-like Chihuahua mix, took the throne as the World’s Ugliest Dog at an annual competition in Petaluma, Calif. on Friday. At 17 years old, he sports only a white mohawk on an otherwise hairless dark body.
His tongue protrudes out of the left side of his mouth, no longer held in by his teeth. He could easily be confused for a gargoyle, and his owner wouldn’t have it any other way.
A shelter rescued Mr. Happy Face from a “deplorable” living situation, and his mom adopted him in August of 2021. Her love for Mr. Happy Face is a great reminder that there is no such thing as an unadoptable dog.
Mr. Happy Face’s Story
When Jeneda Benally traveled to an Arizona dog shelter, she already had the dog she wanted in mind. When she arrived, that dog, who was not Mr. Happy Face, had already been adopted. She asked to see a similar dog. The shelter informed her of another much older dog that “could be inbred” based on his unusual look. Out came Mr. Happy Face.
“The shelter staff tried to prepare me for what I was about to see. I saw a creature who was indeed old, needed a second chance and deserved to be loved,” Benally explained. Mr. Happy Face is a survivor of a neglectful and abusive household, and Benally loves him extra hard to make up for it.
The shelter warned Benally that adopting Mr. Happy Face would be “an act of hospice” due to the dog’s multiple conditions. One year later, he defied all odds and is the center of Benally’s world.
Why Adopt A Less Adoptable Dog?
The phrase “less adoptable dog” is somewhat of an oxymoron. No dog is unadoptable — some just require an extra special parent to take care of them. Older dogs, dogs with illnesses and disabilities, and hyperactive dogs often live the entirety of their lives at shelters. It doesn’t have to be that way.
We compiled a list of ways to ensure that all shelter pups get the attention they deserve. Whether you work at a shelter, are looking to adopt, or simply want to help dogs in need, there is something you can do to help a less adoptable dog become more adoptable.
Most importantly, we should all take a page from Benally’s book and let Mr. Happy Face be an example of what a lot of love and care can do.
Do you have an “unadoptable” dog? If you work at a shelter, do you have any tips for helping less adoptable dogs find forever homes? Let us know in the comments!
