World’s Ugliest Dog Contest: Vote for Jake and Expose His Puppy Mill Past

By Rebecca Simmons

Jake's tail is crooked. His hair is falling out. He's got an attitude.

But the ugliest thing about this take-charge 14 year-old Chihuahua, a contestant in the 2006 "World's Ugliest Dog Contest," isn't his appearance or his personality—it's his puppy mill past.

Before Washington animal lover J.J. Scheele adopted him four years ago, Jake spent up to nine years as a stud dog at a puppy mill—a mass dog breeding operation that churns out thousand of puppies with little regard for their health.

Scheele hopes that the publicity gained by Jake competing—and possibly winning—the world-famous contest will help educate people about puppy mills and caution future pet parents against buying puppies from pet stores over the Internet or through newspaper ads. Puppies obtained this way most likely originated at a puppy mill.

"Consumers who buy a puppy are often duped into thinking they are dealing with a good breeder because the puppy is so adorable—but weeks, months or even years later it becomes apparent that their dog came from a puppy mill," says Stephanie Shain, director of outreach for The Companion Animals section of The HSUS. "The puppy mill is not concerned with the long-term health of the puppy—their primary objective is to make money. It's the dog and the pet guardians who ultimately suffer."

Some of the documented problems at puppy mills include over breeding, poor nutrition, overcrowded cages and lack of veterinary care, which can lead to genetic defects, medical problems and serious injuries for puppy mill pooches.

Jake, for instance has thyroid and autoimmune disorders that cause his hair to fall out. He has heart problems and luxation of the patella, a disorder that causes his knees to dislocate. During his time at the puppy mill, Jake lost his eye and sustained an injury under his chin, leaving a large scar. Scheele believes the injuries are due to dog bites that went untreated. In addition, when Jake initially came to live with Scheele, he had very few social skills.

Jake is not the perfect dog that puppy mills claim to produce—but he's a perfect example of exactly the kinds of problems that puppy mill dogs have. Lucky for Jake, he was rescued and adopted by Scheele instead of being killed, which is how "breeders" at a puppy mill are typically disposed of once they are no longer needed.

"I wouldn't trade Jake and all his issues for anything in the world...but it's so sad he has had to suffer in the way that he has," says Scheele. "This ugly dog brings joy, happiness and wisdom to my life every day—but he is also a reminder of the suffering that goes on because of puppy mills."

Rebecca Simmons is the outreach communications coordinator for the Companion Animals section of The HSUS.