Scamp the Tramp, 2019 winner of the World's Ugliest Dog Contest.
The man credited with creating the World’s Ugliest Dog Contest has died at the age of 91. Ross Smith, who had spent most of his life in Petaluma, passed away on May 24th in his home in Sacramento. In 1971, Smith came up with the idea for the World’s Ugliest Dog Contest during a BBQ for Petaluma’s Old Adobe Association. After that, the idea took off becoming a worldwide event over time. Smith was also known as an electronics technician and fisherman, even diving for abalone as late as the age of 88. He is survived by his two daughters, one in Sacramento and the other in Illinois.
The World’s Ugliest Dog Contest was last held in 2019. The 2020 contest was cancelled due to the pandemic.