Gus settled into his hard-earned success rather easily Monday.
The 9-year-old Chinese crested, with one eye and three legs, drew lots of oohs and aahs — and maybe a few ughs — at his coming out party before a national audience.
After almost a decade of hard living, cancer and fierce fights with cats, the local dog has made good.
The pooch from Gulfport was named the World’s Ugliest Dog at a canine contest held Friday at the Sonoma-Marin County Fair in California. The 20th pooch
pageant is the Miss America of dog anti-beauty contests, and Gus took the tiara.
The notoriety brought with it a segment on NBC’s “Today” show Monday morning, and the pooch was shown via live feed from his home in Pinellas County. Beneath the television footage of Gus was the dubious title: “Worst in Show.”
Jeanenne Teed is Gus’ owner. She chatted with Al Roker during the brief “Today” appearance.
“We think he’s beautiful,” she said. “We’re so glad to share him with the rest of the world.”
Gus has been diagnosed with cancer, and that led to a leg amputation, she said. A cat left him with one eye.
Gus was cancer-free for a year, but it returned in January, Teed said. Now Gus will undergo treatment again.
“We’re waiting for radiation,” she said.
Gus mugged for the camera, nestled on a table, undaunted by the attention or the diagnosis.
“It’s been quite the whirlwind of fame for Gus,” Teed said.
KEITH MORELLI is a staff writer for The Tampa Tribune
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