World's Ugliest Dog Dies

World's Ugliest Dog Dies LIVESTOCK DOGS 30-1-5 The title of "World's Ugliest Dog" is once again up for grabs since the three-time winner died at almost 15 yrs. of age last fall. "Sam" was a purebred Chinese Crested Hairless, which some would say is an ugly breed to start with, but Sam took things to new heights of ugliness. "I don't think there'll ever be another Sam," says owner Susie Lockheed, of Santa Barbara, California, adding wryly, "Some people would think that's a good thing." But Lockheed loved Sam just the same, even with his virtually hairless, warty, wrinkled, brown, splotchy skin that was also dotted with blackheads and moles. His crooked teeth jutted out at odd angles, and he had a sparse tuft of yellowish-white hair at the peak of his knobby head. He was blind, so his eyes looked alien û one a milky white color, and the other reddish-purple from cataracts. A fleshy flap of skin hung from his withered neck, and on his hindquarters, he had a large hernia lump. Even the judges at the World's Ugliest Dog Contest in Sonoma, Calif., recoiled at his extreme distasteful appearance, but it was exactly that ugliness that made Sam a famous celebrity. It earned him limousine rides, stays in luxury hotels, TV appearances, and a personal visit with millionaire Donald Trump. He was seen on Japanese television, talked about on New Zealand radio, and read about in Britain's Daily Mirror tabloid. On her website, Lockheed marketed his image (and still does) on T-shirts, a calendar, refrigerator magnets, and even a coffee "ugly mug." "At the time of his death, Sam was scheduled to be filmed for a Discovery Channel series on the world's ugliest species," Lockheed explains. "Unfortunately, Sam started suffering from a number of age-related ailments such as lung and kidney problems and eventually, congestive heart failure. He didn't make any public appearances for a time prior to my decision to have him humanely euthanized." She met Sam for the first time six years ago at a rescue shelter, and was actually terrified of him because he acted vicious. After much convincing from the staff, she agreed to take him home on a 48-hour trial basis. Lockheed quickly grew to love the unfortunate animal, but her boyfriend at the time was so repulsed by Sam's appearance, that he broke up with her. Later, however, another man was drawn to her after seeing a photo of her and Sam on an online dating service, and he remains her beau today. Following the loss of Sam, Lockheed still has three other Chinese Crested Hairless dogs in her home, where she operates û of all things û a beauty parlor. She is quick to point out that Sam's story illustrates that there "can be love, affection and respect for even the seemingly unattractive souls of this world." She has been told that more and more animals that had been considered un-adoptable in the past, are now being taken in and loved. "Although Sam will be missed by millions, he surely did his good deed while on this earth!" she points out. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Susie Lockheed, Santa Barbara, California (SAM@SamUgliestDog.com, www.samugliestdog.com).

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