Youths attack winner of ugly dog contest

THE winner of Britain’s ugliest dog competition is recovering after he was attacked by youths who pulled out his only clump of hair, his owner said.

Mugly, who was named Britain’s Ugliest Dog by a national newspaper in 2005, was set on by a gang of teenagers after he went missing from his home in Peterborough, Cambs.

The five-year-old Shitzu-Chinese Crested cross was rescued by a passer-by who saved him from the teenagers who were punching and kicking him in a nearby park.

“They even pulled out his clump of hair,” said owner Bev Nicholson, 46. “It was the only hair he had.”

She said: “Mugly leapt out of the lounge window last Thursday. He must have seen someone outside because he is a real ‘people dog’.

“We searched high and low for hours and put posters up around the neighbourhood.

“About five hours after he went missing I got a phone call from a lady saying: ‘I think I found your dog in a park, but don’t get too excited because I had to pry him away from five 11-15-year-olds who were kicking, punching him and hitting him with a stick’.”

Ms Nicholson said she took Mugly to the vet where he was treated for bruises and sores.

She added: “I just can’t understand why people would do that.

“Mugly’s bruises are coming out now. He is a little jumpy but he is doing well.

“People might say he is ugly but when you spend a minute with him you think he’s gorgeous because of his personality.”