Original subtitles

- Poppy!

Pop!

Poppy!

[upbeat music]

I'm an animal lover, as you can probably tell.

I've got five dogs, six cats, seven chickens.

I occasionally keep pigs and sheep, and even turkeys.

I think all of my animals are absolutely beautiful,

even that one.

But not all animals are drop-dead gorgeous.

In their world, as in the human world,

there's the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Don't bring it near me, will you?

I want to go out into the world

and find out who deliberately has ugly animals,

and whether or not they're as adorable as mine,

or is beauty very much in the eye of the beholder?

What an earth do you see in a pet like that?

On my journey I'll be meeting a whole host

of quirky creatures.

The next section does contain some nudity.

And getting to know the people who champion

these underdogs, cats, rats.

♪ Fa, la, la

And all manner of aesthetically challenged animals.

- I do like to just sit and watch them eat.

- [Caroline] My adventure will reach its climax

at the annual mecca for mutt-ugly animals,

the World's Ugliest Dog Contest, in America.

- I like him being ugly.

- [Caroline] But I'm not going alone.

Anybody got any ugly dogs?

I'm looking for a fabulously ugly British dog

to take along and claim the title.

You've got a very funny face! [laughing]

As I explore the beauty in the beast.

Poppy, come on, come on.

Clever dog, yeah.

The first step on my journey of discovery

is a visit to a VIP member of the ugly pet community.

I'm on my way to meet Bev, and her dog Mugly.

Mugly won the World's Ugliest Dog Competition,

in America, in 2012.

I want to see Mugly and see exactly how high the bar is set.

13-year-old Mugly, who was abandoned as a puppy

because of his quirky looks,

is the only Brit ever to claim the ugly dog prize.

[door knocking] I'm hoping owner Bev

will be giving me some tips.

- Hello. - Bev.

- Yes. [laughs] - Hi, hello,

lovely to meet you.

Caroline.

And lovely to meet you. - This is Mugly.

- How do you do Mugly, how do you do.

Hello Mugly. [Bev laughing]

Hello Mugly.

He is an extraordinary looking dog.

- He is extraordinary altogether. [chuckles]

- What sort of dog is he?

- He's a Chinese Crested.

- [Caroline] Can I come and have a look at you?

- Yes, come and have a look. - Thank you.

[Bev laughs]

- Here it is, "The World's Ugliest Dog."

It's quite something this. How did it feel to win?

- We kind of entered it in a very British way.

You know, "Yeah, we're just here,

"we'll just enter him, it's no problem."

And it was only when the presenter said the Brit has won it,

that I just thought this is overwhelming,

'Cause all the press jumps up on the stage,

and it's all very intense.

It didn't really sink in until the next day, I don't think.

- People are very peculiar about ugly pets.

Do people react strongly to Mugly?

- Oh, very definitely.

We get two reactions, really.

One would be, "Oh, he's really cute."

But the rest of it is he looks like a rat,

he's like elephant skin, they're the nicer ones.

- But it's very interesting,

because I have that reaction to come other sorts of animals.

I'm the same about rats and maybe snakes.

So I kind of recognise the instinct

to be slightly repelled by something.

But I'm trying to overcome that in myself

and I'm hoping I'm going to encourage other people

to overcome that in themselves too

and to look at dogs like Mugly with a fresh eye,

and see them who he is.

- That's the whole focus of the competition, over there.

It's all about finding rescue dogs

that don't look cute and fluffy,

and that are a little bit unusual.

[upbeat music]

- [Caroline] The World's Ugliest Dog Contest

has been held in California for over 40 years.

- I have to tell you that a Brit has won it, Mugly.

[audience cheering] [audience applauding]

- [Caroline] Previous title holders include Yoda, Peanut

and the competition's most famous winner, Sam,

who scooped the prize three years on the trot,

and is widely credited with being

the ugliest dog of all time.

Let's get back to our British champ

and his extensive collection of clothes.

- This is just part of Mugly's wardrobe.

[Caroline Laughs]

- [Caroline] He's got more clothes than I have

- Yeah, and me.

This is his Mardi Gras outfit.

[Caroline laughs] [gentle music]

- He could do panto in that costume. [laughing]

- Couldn't he. [laughs]

This is Ronald McDonald.

It does have a red curly wig to go with it.

- [laughter] Kimonos for a dog.

- We have it in every colour. - That's hilarious.

How much would that cost you?

- That was about 25.

[Caroline gasps] And so was that.

- 25? - Yeah.

- [Caroline] You've got hundreds of pounds worth of--

- [Bev] Thousands, thousands.

- Thousands of pounds worth?

- Of course, Mugly carries it off very well.

[upbeat music]

- Come on Aladdin. [laughing]

Along with her beloved Mugly,

Bev has four other unique looking dogs.

Come on now old Muggers.

Come on up, up Mugly.

Oh, Mugly don't be jealous of your darling friends.

How have you ended up with all these

Chinese Crested dogs, Bev?

- Well Mugly was the beginning.

They're all rescues.

[dog barking]

Shh, shh.

- Look at that tail! [laughing]

I would have thought I'd have found that

absolutely disgusting but actually its really sweet,

'cause it's quite ratty as a tail.

And I don't like rats but that's a sweet little tail.

Well I'm a convert.

Honestly, I would never have dreamt in a million years

I'd ever be sitting with a bald dog,

but honestly, I really get it.

I'm genuinely amazed,

I didn't think I was gonna like them at all.

[upbeat music]

This year's contest is in a few weeks' time,

so I've got to get a move on to find a new British champion.

I've put a shout-out on social media

and I'm scouring the country for a pug-ugly pet

that might fit the bill.

I'm going to America to something called

the World's Ugliest Dog Competition.

So, I'm looking for what you'd call an ugly dog.

- To find someone who would describe their own pet

as ugly, probably few and far between

Dog shows usually feature perfect and primped pooches.

I'm going to gate crash one of these shows

and stage a rival event,

with some motley mutts who wouldn't usually get a look in.

I'll call it Britain's Ultimate Underdog.

Now what I need to do is to find a dog show

that's happening somewhere not too far away.

[gentle music]

Hi, is that Matt?

Steve, sorry, hello, hi.

My name's Caroline Quentin.

Yeah.

Yes, off the telly. [laughs]

No, it is really me.

No, it is really me.

I've got a favour to ask you.

It's a bit odd, but I want to stage my own dog show.

Can I email you?

Thanks.

I will do.

Bye-bye.

He didn't believe it was me, but I'm going to email him.

'Cause it is me.

[upbeat music]

Around half of us Brits own a pet

and scientists believe that we're drawn

to cute and cuddly creatures because their wide eyes

and symmetrical features remind us of human babies.

[baby gurgles]

Animals who don't make the grade in the looks department

are the ones who are abandoned or left in shelters.

In a perfect world, we would love

all creatures, great and small.

So, in my mission to understand

why people keep ugly animals, I'm going to face

one of my greatest fears.

I've come to meet Ashleigh,

she has got a wide variety of animals,

most of which have been literally left

on the shelf at the pet shop,

but she's taken them in because she loves them.

Ashleigh also has a great fondness

for something I can't abide, and that's rodents.

But better still, Ashleigh loves hairless rodents.

[gentle music]

Wish me luck.

Ashleigh.

Ooh, hang on, I'll come to you.

Sorry this is not a very nice way to say hello to somebody,

but [groans].

Oh God.

Ashleigh, what are you thinking?

That's a guinea pig isn't it?

Yeah, she's a hairless guinea pig.

- Hairless guinea pigs are a genetic mutation.

The first skinny pig was created in Canada, in 1978.

Their eyes are pink, due to a lack of pigmentation.

Ooh, it's looking at me.

[Nudey squeaking]

- [Ashleigh] This is Nudey.

- Is Nudey expecting more guinea pigs.

- [Ashleigh] She is, yes.

- I can see those guinea pigs moving about inside her.

What on earth do you set in a pet like that?

- People hate red eyed animals,

they think that they're all evil.

She most certainly is not, she's lovely.

- [Caroline] Do you love her?

- [Ashleigh] Yeah, of course

- Wow, that's not a good-looking animal.

[gentle music]

The moment I've been dreading.

That's a rat isn't it?

Is that a rat?

Ooh, I'm really gonna struggle with this.

Like skinny pigs, hairless rats are specially bred.

Time to come face to face with my biggest fear.

I'm really nervous about this, oh my God.

Don't bring it near me, will you?

♪ Fa la la

Oh my God, okay, please don't let it run at me will you?

- [Ashleigh] She won't.

- [Caroline] Promise?

- [Ashleigh] Yeah.

[gentle music]

- Slowly does it.

This is just a baby rat.

Wow.

Unbelievably, I think that animal has quite a nice face.

I'm pretty impressed with myself at the moment.

I would be grateful if you didn't let her come on me,

but, ooh, she's quite scampery now.

- [Ashleigh] They like to sit.

- [Caroline] She won't jump off onto me will she?

- [Ashleigh] No. - Promise?

- Promise, yeah.

They like to sit in your neck and in pockets and things.

They love to do that.

- I mean that is a sweet face looking at me now.

I don't love her, but maybe what I'm discovering here

is that the fear is genuinely of the unknown,

because the longer I watch her doing her behaviours,

the less repulsive she is to me.

[upbeat music]

So many prejudices are based on lack of knowledge,

aren't they?

- [Ashleigh] Yeah.

- She sneezed!

I'm not ready to give her a cuddle, just yet.

I'm a bit thrilled because I think I am one step further

on my personal journey.

I may yet come to love rodents in the same way that

Ashleigh loves all creatures great and small.

And a little bit nibbly.

[parrot squawking]

The internet is packed with videos

of people with their pets.

[upbeat music]

Moggies top the charts with two million films,

featuring cute cats.

But not all felines are the fluffy variety.

[cat growls]

I'm meeting 41-year-old Hampshire hairdresser, Linda.

A lover of Sphynx cats.

She's got three of them.

They don't have an ounce of fur between them.

You're a hairdresser, why do you like hairless cats

- I can't stand hair.

I'm allergic to furry cats.

- [Caroline] Hence you having naked cats.

- It's just less hassle, you know what I mean?

The worst thing is you go to get your dinner

and you've got a plate and there's hair all over it.

That's the one thing. - Yes, indeed.

[gentle music]

Like other fur-free pets,

these cats have incredibly sensitive skin

and have to be slathered in high-factor sunscreen

if they go outside.

I've got to be honest, I've not met one before now.

Immediately on the eye, they're quite shocking actually.

- They are at first, yeah.

I've got a few friends that are just like,

"Get it off me, get it off me."

- Is that people that don't like cats,

generally? - No, they like cats,

but it's just the whole thought of it being hairless.

They're like, "No."

They're my hot water bottles at night.

This one lays on my chest, this one lays on my legs

and this ones at my feet. [laughs]

- They they do feel quite velvety.

- They're velvety and just really lovely

and warm and cuddly.

- When you first meet them it's slightly unpleasant

because you can see every bone, you can see--

- I think the worst bit is it's their bum. [laughs]

- Well, I was about to say, you can see their anus.

- Put the arse away

[upbeat music]

- [Caroline] How do people react when they see them?

- They're like, "What is it?"

"It's a Sphynx."

And they're like, "Oh my God."

- [Caroline] Do you think the British are too reserved

to actually go [groans].

- Oh no, I've got friends have gone [groans]. [laughs]

- Really? - "Get it off me." [laughs]

He's really taken to you.

No, you're not having him. [laughs]

- Nice little cat.

[gentle upbeat music]

Ooh, what's that?

- Oh, that's Calisie on her wheel.

- [Caroline] Why do cats need an exercise wheel?

- [Linda] These ones don't go outside

- [Caroline] She likes it!

- If I could get on it I would.

[Caroline laughs]

- I enjoyed meeting Linda and her cats,

but I don't think I'd choose a bald moggy as a pet.

Just like the rats and guinea pigs I met earlier,

Sphynx cats are a genetic mutation.

But why do we like to create hairless creatures?

Do we want to make our pets look more like people?

Maybe that's why we dress them up.

I'm on my way to meet some creatures

that don't look remotely human.

[sinister music]

One in five of us is scared of spiders

and most of us aren't too fond of snails either.

Unless you're French, and you eat them.

But friends, Amy and Britain,

are crazy about creepy, crawly and slimy creatures.

Most people get cuddles and companionship from their pets,

what do you get from tarantulas?

- It's not the same sort of companionship as a dog or a cat,

but i get an incredible amount of peace.

When I'm watering and feeding them and tending to them,

it's like an hour and a half that's just to me.

Is that true for you Amy?

Is there a sort of meditative quality

with being with snails?

- Yeah, I'd definitely say so.

I do like to sit and just watch them eat

because you can hear them crunching.

- That really does make sense,

I hadn't ever thought of that,

but there's a tranquil quality

about those of these creatures

which I wouldn't have anticipated

and I would never have thought about.

What does it feel like having that crawling up your arm?

- You can kind of feel the muscles moving

and it's just very squishy.

- But can I touch its body? - Yeah.

- Oh, hello.

And you little darling.

Is it feeling where to walk?

Is that how it's--

- Yeah, they're mostly blind and they are deaf

so they just feel by vibration, that's--

- They're deaf? - Yeah.

Spiders are really not to fear.

They're calm and gentle animals.

We're raised to believe that some animals are cute and nice

and interesting and others are horrible

and it's kind of a shame,

because then people grow up fearing

certain types of animals.

- Peaches is such a pretty spider.

You can feel her, which I like.

It's not so delicate that you don't know she's there.

- [Britain] See can you see how it's addictive now?

- Yep, do you know what, I really can.

So perhaps all animals are beautiful in their own way,

a bit like people really.

Wouldn't the world be a boring place

if we were all as perfect as Beyonce?

[gentle upbeat music]

With hardly any time left

before the World's Ugliest Dog Contest, in California,

I need to find my own hideous hound

to enter into the competition.

So here I am, Brentwood in Essex,

at one of the UK's biggest and best dog shows.

We're all used to looking at beautiful dogs

winning prizes for being perfect,

but I'm' going to be holding auditions today,

not for dogs that everyone thinks are beautiful,

but for the dogs that embody the spirit of dogginess.

I'm very excited.

I've been given my own arena

but I have no idea if any ugly dogs are going to turn up.

An hour into the show,

and the only prizewinning pooch is me.

[Caroline laughing]

Surely one of these top dogs must have an ugly sister?

Or brother, mother, dad, auntie?

So, this is the winner of most gorgeous pure breed?

- [Woman] Last year.

- Ooh, she's not good for me,

'cause I'm doing the ugly dogs competition.

[woman laughs]

What is that little dog?

- It's a Shih Tzu.

- It's a little Shih Tzu.

Oh, it's a very young Shih Tzu.

- 16 weeks. - 16 weeks, she's adorable.

Who's this?

- [Woman] This is Pepper.

- And do people think pepper's ugly?

- I dunno, it depends on what breed.

Everyone's got their own favourite breed.

- Yeah, they have. - Yeah.

I like dogs in general, so I've got lots. [laughs]

- I like dogs in general, how many dogs have you got?

- 14.

[both laughing]

- She hates the camera.

[playful music]

There's a dearth of ugliness here.

Everything with four legs is pretty.

[thunder rumbling]

The skies open, and there isn't an ugly dog in sight.

[rain pattering]

Time to take action.

I have made myself this board,

and I'm going to go out into the world,

and I'm going to find ugly dogs.

And I don't care if I get wet doing it.

Follow me.

[gentle upbeat music] [rain pattering]

Anybody got any ugly dogs?

Any ugly dogs, sir?

Britain's.

No, no dogs at all.

I'm looking for Britain's Ultimate Underdog.

Your dog I suspect is too good looking.

Anybody got any ugly dogs?

Bring them to my show, I'm holding auditions for ugly dogs!

No ugly dogs here.

I want to hold an ugly dog show.

You're pretty.

What are you rolling in?

Oh, sit down!

I'm looking beyond the cute and cuddly.

Oh god.

And learning to love ugly pets.

It's slightly unpleasant because you can see every bone,

you can see--

- I think the worst bit is is their bum.

[both laughing]

- And I'm searching for a British dog

to take to the World's Ugliest Dog Contest.

Your dog, I suspect, is too good looking.

At my Ultimate Underdog Show, things are looking up.

The rain's cleared and, hurrah,

there's a queue of motley mutts.

[gentle music]

I've enlisted the help of Frank Kane,

who usually presides over the best in show at Crufts.

I've also invited two special guest-judges,

Bev Nicholson and the 2012 winner

of the World's Ugliest Dog Contest, Mugly.

Look, completely hairless completely hairy, tiny.

Oh, don't eat him, Barney. [laughing]

How easy is it going to be, Frank,

do you think to judge this competition?

- Beauty is in the eye of the beholder,

what's ugly for one person is beautiful for another.

And this is where the panel of judges will have to decide.

- Do you think we're going to struggle to reach an agreement

on this Bev? - Absolutely.

- Do you? - Yes, I really do.

Because it's your gut.

You go with your gut and that's personal.

- May we have our first entrant please?

First up on my spinning podium,

to celebrate less than perfect pooches,

is two-year-old heavyweight, Oriana.

- [Frank] This a Neapolitan Mastiff,

they go back to Roman times

and they were bred to lead the legions into battle.

They're very lovable, devoted to their owners aren't they.

- They're very devoted to their owners.

- And that's what we have dogs for, devotion to their owners

and their personalities, not just their looks, yes?

- So we'll be looking for that, I think,

in our dog today. [laughs]

And the next dog please!

Daisy may not have beauty, but she's certainly got brains.

There's no way she's getting on that podium.

[laughs] Daisy!

- [Bev] Very sweet

Oh, wow.

- [Frank] Very good, yes. [Bev cheers]

- Will she do that with me?

[upbeat music]

Thank you I did all the work. [laughs]

Now who've we got here?

- [Frank] It's not just an ordinary Corgi,

it's a Cardigan Welsh Corgi.

- [Caroline] Unusual corgi, Dilbert,

might be fit for a queen,

but is he royally ugly enough for me?

- People always stop us in the street and say,

"That's a weird looking dog." [laughs]

And we think he's beautiful but other people

unfortunately don't.

- You know, he might not win the top prizes,

but he's still a good specimen of a Cardigan Welsh Corgi.

- Of a rare dog, there you go. - The perfect dog

never exists.

[gentle upbeat music]

- [Caroline] Could Timmy be a contender?

- Now this to me is a real unique dog

because he looks a real Heinz 57.

- He was born with a hare lip.

- Born with a hare Lip? - Yeah.

He was a dog that shouldn't have lived.

He had an operation.

- [Caroline] Timmy, let me look at your movable nose.

Timmy, oh Timmy.

- It looks like he's smiling.

- Great personality.

We don't know their pedigree.

They're from an alliance in the park in the dark, yes.

[Caroline laughs]

[upbeat music]

- [Caroline] Next up, it's Logan.

Oh, Logan

- [Frank] One blue eye and one brown eye.

- He's a peculiar looking beast, I have to be honest.

- He makes your day, he really does.

- [Caroline] And finally, this strange looking thing.

You've got a very funny face

- This is Frieda.

- [Caroline] Frieda, come on Frieda.

- [Frank] Frieda

- [Woman] Frieda gets told she's ugly almost every day

when I take her out for a walk.

- No. - Ugliness to some

is beauty to another, yes.

And I'm sure you look at her and think she's beautiful.

- I like her uniqueness.

And the fact that almost her whole face

is on top of her head.

Why should Frieda win?

- [Woman] 'Cause she's perfectly imperfect.

- [Caroline] An extraordinary clutch of canines

to add to my search for Britain's underdog.

Time for a debrief although Mugly has, largely,

been keeping his views to himself.

Inscrutable, as always.

- Oriana, and what sort of dog's Oriana?

- Neapolitan Mastiff.

- Beautiful, but too beautiful for us.

Frieda. - Too timid.

- She's too timid. - She was too timid.

The competition is very loud.

There's thousands of people there

and you need a special type of dog.

- I've been quite taken by the fact that

they've taken on these dogs and they don't seem to

give two hoots about how the world looks at them.

They love their dog and they don't care what people say.

All of today's entrants have been winners,

but the standards at the world's ugliest dog contest

are exceedingly high.

These dogs are just too good looking.

[upbeat music]

I'm just looking at some photographs of previous winners,

and I think the competition is going to be pretty stiff.

This is Quasimodo who won in 2015,

and he's not exactly a looker is he?

[laughing] Look at peanut.

Peanut's a corker.

[laughs] Oh, peanut

Look at Yoda.

He Looks like a bit of belly button fluff with eyes.

I'm actually quite excited because I'm on my way

to meet a lady called Storm who has a dog called Chase.

It sounds to me like chase could have all the qualities

I'm looking for.

A dog that could, perhaps, replace the marvellous Mugly.

The UK winner of the us championships in 2012.

Let's hope we can do this.

Come on, Chase, be the dog I'm looking for.

I may finally have made a breakthrough.

Chinese Crested, Chase, and his owner,

48-year-old, Storm, from South Wales,

got together seven years ago

and have been inseparable ever since.

This breed has had more winners

at the World's Ugliest Dog Contest than any other.

By the way, Chase isn't being rude.

He's sticking his tongue out because a defective gene

means the hairless variety of this breed

usually lose their gnashers at an early age.

Oh my goodness.

Chase is one hell of an ugly dog.

He's perfect.

Hello baby, hello baby.

I can't wait to get to know him and Storm,

who has a whole pack of dogs in her holiday caravan.

Are they important to you, your dog's?

- They're my life.

- Are they?

- Yeah. - How many have you got?

- 10.

They're all rescue.

- [Caroline] Yeah.

- They've all come from some quite bad situations.

Chase, he was rescued from a puppy farm.

- Chase.

Chase, is it all right if I.

Oh, he's so warm.

Oh, look.

- [Storm] He is a little sun worshipper.

- One eye is a different colour.

- [Storm] He's got a cataract.

- Oh, Chase.

I've never owned a hairless dog,

and I've certainly never owned a dog that looked like this.

It does take a bit of getting used to,

but actually they're very tactile.

- Yeah, it's skin the same as anything else,

and they're very good for people who are missing out on

that type of contact.

- [Caroline] Yes.

- Because cutching one of those is lovely. [laughs]

- [Caroline] Yeah!

Chase has been a lifeline for Storm

who has suffered from crippling anxiety

since a traumatic accident turned her life upside down.

- My mother was killed when I was 18.

That was very difficult for me

'cause it was just me and her living together.

We were on a motorbike, and we hit a horse,

and she was killed.

My last memories of her were CPR.

And for a very long time I had dreams.

- Oh dear. - I struggled.

Chase has been absolutely marvellous with me.

I've used him as my assistance dog,

which means I take him everywhere I go.

It's almost a security blanket.

- Yeah, security blanket or pacifier or something like that.

Yes, yeah.

- And also people talk to me through the dog, very often.

So I also have that--

- [Caroline] Is that easier?

- Yeah, I have that little bit of extra space.

- [Caroline] Yeah.

- So, there are times in my life.

Yeah, you.

When I would have isolated myself and a normal looking dog.

would not have got so much attention.

- [Caroline] Yeah.

- But he sometimes does,

which means I have to then be sociable.

I have to then talk to people.

- But he's a funny looking thing too,

he's got comedy value.

Yes, you. [laughs]

- He is very unique.

- Isn't he sweet? [laughing]

[upbeat music]

A Chinese Crested rescue dog who looks like a gremlin

has no teeth, a dodgy eye and who walks like a crab,

Chase has all the ingredients to be a champion ugly dog.

Above all, he helps Storm to deal with her anxiety

and is her official assistance dog.

Of all the mutts I've met, he deserves to be celebrated.

Storm, Chase, will you come with me to the States?

- Seriously?

Yes. [laughing]

- Will you? - Yeah! [laughs]

- Oh, that will be so great!

Oh, it's so exciting. - Oh my God, thanks, yes.

- Oh, that brilliant.

Oh, I'm thrilled, I'm thrilled my sweetheart.

- I'm thrilled, I'm not sure about him, but I'm thrilled.

- I think he'll have a nice time

because he's so relaxed and chilled out.

- [Storm] He'll like the sun.

- Oh darling, well done.

He's quite shaking with delight.

[playful music]

At her home in Neath, Storm is preparing for her first

transatlantic flight, with Chase's help, of course.

- That's his assistance dog harness,

and for when we're there, he's got a little flag.

So, we're gonna to be on the plane together,

you're going to be by my feet.

I'm afraid you're not allowed to eat

for the whole of the flight.

That's gonna be the biggest thing.

I'm the one that's nervous.

Isn't it, Chase.

Come on then, Chase, off to America.

Oh, seatbelt. [laughs]

- [Caroline] On the way,

I can't resist popping in on one ugly pet,

who lives in Boston.

[upbeat music]

I've never seen a bird like Rhea in my life, what is she?

- She is a lovebird.

- Yeah, I mean people do have lovebirds,

and, of course, normally they're rather beautiful

with their soft colours and their pinks and their greys

and everything.

Where are her feathers?

- Well she has a disease that made her feathers do fall out.

The disease is called psittacine beak and feather disease.

She used to be yellow, very pretty,

I never got to see her like that though.

When I adopted her she had already lost all her feathers.

- She doesn't fly does she? - No.

- She can't fly?

- Nothing.

So birds burn calories, just like us when we walk,

they burn calories when they fly, and because she can't fly,

I feel bad.

So I was like, "You know what?"

When she came here I was like,

"You're gonna be free."

So, she is free to roam around the house all day.

- [Caroline] Does she get cold?

- Yes, she gets very very cold so she needs to stay warm,

that's the most important thing for her.

[upbeat music]

- Is it true that people make jumpers and things for her?

- Oh my God, yes, I have over 300.

I get sweaters every single day.

- Thanks to devoted owner, Isabelle,

Rhea has become a darling of the social media world.

She tweets and has half a million followers.

When I first heard about her

I thought I don't know what the fuss is gonna be about,

but actually she's all personality isn't she?

- She is, she is, and she's so sassy.

- [Caroline] Yeah.

- [Isabelle] Funny.

[Rhea tweets]

- [Caroline] Usually, if I was going to be that close

to a bird with no feathers,

it would be because I'm about to eat it.

But I have to say that Rhea, in the flesh, is a delight.

Nowadays I think I'm going to look at all birds and think,

"You're overdressed."

Feathers are overrated.

[upbeat music]

In my search for ugly pets, remarkably most have been fur

or feather free.

Does that make an animal less attractive?

After all, to many of us bald is beautiful.

[playful music]

My ugly showstopper, Chase.

- [Storm] Sun hat.

- [Caroline] And owner Storm, have arrived in the USA.

- And look what I've got you, a pair of sunglasses.

- [Caroline] And are soaking up the sunshine

ahead of the big day.

- [Storm] So what do you think of California, Chase?

Come on Chase let's go and try the pool.

- I'm in California, where my journey into the world of

aesthetically challenged animals

is about to get even uglier.

The day has finally arrived,

we are off to the World's Ugliest Dog Contest.

I'm gonna go and meet Storm and Chase

and see if they are as up for this as I am.

Let's bring this title home to Blighty.

I'm really impressed with what Chase is wearing.

He looks fantastic.

So just talk me through what he's actually got on. [laughs]

- He starts with the little vest,

because obviously he's wearing the assistance dog harness.

It basically tells the world that he's my assistance dog.

- [Caroline] 'Cause you've never been on a plane.

- Never been on a jet plane.

- How have you coped, actually?

- You know, I've not just left Britain, I've come to America

and I would have been freaking out without him.

- And it's an odd competition anyway

to want your dog to be the ugliest dog.

Let's just get that out there now.

But you want Chase to be the world's ugliest dog?

- Yes, because this competition isn't about maligning

or making fun of animals, it's about saying

that it's not about what the dog looks like,

it's what's inside that counts.

Chase is a puppy farm reject, possibly because of his looks.

He came in to rescue at only a few weeks old.

He stayed there for quite a few years,

until I adopted him, seven years ago.

- And I think that's right

it's because of what they look like

they get left behind isn't it, let's be honest.

- And yet, you could not wish for a better dog.

If he's not the ugliest, he's certainly the loyalist.

- He's the most adorable.

- [Storms] He is beautiful.

- [Caroline] Shall we get going.

- Yes. - Yay!

- [laughs] Let's go!

[people cheering] [upbeat music]

- The World's Ugliest Dog Contest

attracts crowds of over 3,000 people,

along with the world's media.

The winning pooches and their owners

get a prize of $1,500, a trip to New York

and a year's supply of dog biscuits.

- Look here, look, we're here.

This is why we've come.

[laughs] It's quite impressive isn't it.

- [Storm] I'm gonna get stage fright. [laughs]

- Well I'm very excited

and it's really lovely to see it in all its glory.

Look and there are the big

prizes. - My God, the sizes of them!

[gentle music]

- [Caroline] Before the show,

Chase has an opportunity to woo his audience.

- [Storm] What do you think has he got a chance?

- Yeah. - Yes.

- He's definitely got chance.

- [Storm] Would you like a cuddle?

- Yes.

- You're a beauty, you're a beauty.

- Is he gonna be in the contest?

- Yeah, yeah, yeah! - He's gonna win the contest.

That is the winner right there.

- It's a big day for me,

and it's a really really big day for Chase.

I just hope that Chase isn't completely

overwhelmed by the entire experience

because I'm looking around

and there's some very serious competition.

Chase is up against 23 rivals

and facing fierce competition from

three-year-old heavyweight, Martha,

a Neapolitan mastiff with a flatulence problem.

Brussels Griffon crosses, Mo and Monkey.

And a kennel full of hairless Chinese Crested,

the breed that has reigned supreme in this contest.

Zuma, Rascal, Icky and Josie.

- [Woman] She took second place last year.

- Oh, so she could win it.

- I don't know, there's some pretty creepy looking dogs.

[both laughing]

- [Man] Zoomer has taken second and Icky's taken third.

But they've never actually won the title.

- This is Mo, and Mo

is one of the first people I've met today with proper fur.

- Yes, he hasn't lost any of it.

He's lost his sight and his hearing

but he definitely has his fur.

- You are entering Martha into the competition,

is that right? - That's right.

- [Caroline] She's quite something to look at isn't she?

- [Woman] She's spectacular, absolutely.

- Do you think she's beautiful or ugly?

- Both. - Bugly!

Have you ever entered this competition before?

- Yep, this is our fifth time.

- Fifth time? - Yes.

- [Caroline] And has monkey ever won anything?

- [Man] She won second place four years ago, I think.

- Oh. - Yeah.

- Oh, so you're in with a chance?

- Oh yeah, she's there. [laughs]

- [Dane] I think it's fun when people think he's ugly.

- [Caroline] Do you, and do people say that to you?

- Oh, they say it all the time.

In a way it's kinda rude, because this is my kid

and I walk by and they go,

"Oh my god that dogs ugly," out loud.

- Do you feel extra pressure representing Wales here?

- [Storm] Yes, yes.

- While storm and chase get the celebrity treatment,

I get the inside scoop from the judges.

How long has this competition been going?

- There's been an ugly dog competition in Petaluma

for over 50 years.

- Wow.

- And when it started it was for fun.

A bunch of guys said, "We need to do something different,

"get some attention for Petaluma,"

but over the years it has evolved to be about

rescuing animals that may not be perfect.

Some dogs are not always chosen in the shelters

and we like to say that they are all lovable,

all adoptable, and they're beautiful on the inside.

- Can you tell me what you're looking for

in the world's ugliest dog?

- I think I'm gonna be looking for the dogs that sort of

are comfortable in their own skin.

They're not uncomfortable with their looks, right?

- I think some of them don't know they're ugly.

- Well it's so true of so many of us in life isn't it.

Well, listen, good luck.

I'm really looking forward to the judging

and seeing all the animals.

[upbeat music]

Minutes away from showtime and a final pep talk.

How are you feeling?

- Oh, nervous, very nervous.

There's some stiff competition here today.

- There really is and there are a lot of people

who have a lot of experience of this gig actually.

- Oh yes, a few of them have been here several times before,

and we are such a newbie.

- Try and enjoy it, it's a one off.

- Yeah.

[audience applauding]

- [Caroline] It's showtime.

- Hello everybody!

You all set for the World's Ugliest Dog Contest?

[audience cheering]

- Dog number one.

Ladies and gentlemen from Davis, California, Zoomer.

[audience cheering] [audience applauding]

- He's dishy.

Too handsome.

- [Man Host] Martha!

Oh, what a face, huh?

- Oh, she's lovely.

- [Woman Host] Her coat is so beautiful.

- [Man Host] That kinda looked like me last night

after that second bottle of wine down the road.

- [Woman Host] I'm not going to argue that.

[audience applauding] [audience cheering]

Moe Alfred Herbert James.

- That's the real competition that dog.

That's the one I think we've gotta beat.

It's a beautifully ugly dog.

[upbeat music]

- [Man Host] Monkey was rescued from a hoarding situation

when she was six months old.

She's a very unique little girl.

- Ladies and gentleman, Rascal.

- All right.

- [Woman Host] He's the fifth generation

to carry on the ugly dog dynasty

after his dad Rascal won back in 2002.

[audience applauding]

- [Caroline] It's Chase's big moment.

- [Woman Host] All right,

let's give a big warm American welcome

to contestant number five, from the UK,

escorted by Storm Shayler, we have Chase.

[audience applauding]

- [Man Host] This is of course the dog

that has come furthest, all the way from Great Britain.

- Come on, Chase. - A fellow Brit last won the

World's Ugliest Dog Contest

back in 2012. - Oh, take the sausage.

- Good luck Chase. - Did you bring Toby

back across the see.

[audience cheering] [dramatic music]

- [Judge] And This dog is an assistance dog?

- [Storm] Yes.

- Has this dog met the Queen?

- No, I'm afraid not, no. - What?

- [Judge] I like the legs are so crazy disproportionate

to the rest of the body.

- [Judge] And a whole lot of shaking going on there too.

- This is a lot of pressure for a little dog.

- Yeah. - He's doing really well.

- He is. - Yes.

He's got a cataract in that eye

but the other eyesight's perfect.

- And the tongue here hanging out like that is natural?

- [Storm] Yes, 'cause he's lost his teeth.

- [Judge] He has no teeth?

- [Storm] Yeah.

- Let's make chase feel welcome, his first time in the USA.

- Wonderful creature.

[audience applauding] [audience cheering]

- Hey I like that sideways crab walk, that he has.

That's a bonus.

Look at that.

Look at the legs on that dog, oh my gosh.

- [Caroline] Storm and chase have done Great Britain proud.

But with such stiff competition, it could go either way.

- We want to invite all of our dogs

and all of their handlers to please come to the stage

right now as we prepare for judging and awards.

- [Caroline] It's decision time.

Will storm and her loyal, perfectly imperfect dog, Chase,

take the crown?

- [Judge] The three finalists.

- In no particular order here. - In no particular order.

[tense music]

- Martha.

[audience applauding] [audience cheering]

Moe.

[audience applauding] [audience cheering]

Chase!

[audience cheering] [Caroline laughing]

- Oh, Chase. - Give it up for Wales.

[audience applauding]

- [Caroline] They've made the final three.

- So, if we can just have those three finalists

remain on the stage.

We will ask the audience to help us

by cheering just as loud as you can.

First, for Moe.

[audience cheering] [upbeat music]

- Chase.

[audience cheering]

- Come on, come on, come on! [laughs]

- Martha.

[audience cheering]

Ladies and gentlemen, we have reached a decision.

- Okay, in the third position, from Wales we have Chase.

[audience cheering] [audience applauding]

- Woo hoo!

Third place, out of all the ugliest dogs in the world.

It really is an extraordinary achievement.

- I'm just gobsmacked, I just did not expect

to do so well. [laughs] - Gobsmacked.

- Chase and Storm should be very proud.

Good result.

- And the winner of the World's Ugliest Dog 2017,

Martha! - Martha! [laughing]

[audience applauding]

- He's just taking everything in his stride,

as he usually does.

- Congratulations. - Thank you.

[cameras clicking]

- Congratulations! [Storm laughing]

Congratulations, well done.

Well done, Chase, brilliant.

- I thought we were up against such stiff competition.

- It was a really, really tough competition.

- And lovely to see a different dog win, to be honest.

- It was exciting to see something

other than a little Crested Chinese.

Much as we adore you!

And how are we gonna get this back home?

- I've no idea, and this.

- Oh, no really.

- [Storm] Yes, I've won this as well.

- I think they'll send me back in that probably.

Send me back in the crate.

It's been great, hasn't it. - Oh, it's been wonderful.

- I'm just, I'm still, I just, [laughs] I'm lost for words.

- Well done darling.

We did good.

The dog did good.

[upbeat music]

They may not have bagged first prize,

but Storm and Chase have come a long way.

And so, have I.

Oh god.

Come on now old Muggers.

Come on up, up, Mugly.

Think what I've found most moving

about this entire experience,

is how many animals get left behind

because of what they look like,

and what's brought the most joy to me has been the fact

that there are people out there who would always take home

the underdog, the ugly, the unfortunate.

The one like the wallflower at the dance

would always get left behind.

But hooray, those people that love animals,

people like me who really adore them,

for them there are no ugly pets.

[upbeat music]