Zsa Zsa, a rescued English bulldog with a nasty underbite and dangling tongue that earned her the title of “World’s Ugliest Dog” last month, died Tuesday.
She was 9 years old.
On a Facebook page for Zsa Zsa, owner Megan Brainard confirmed the dog died in her sleep.
“She’s been staying over at my dad’s house. He woke up this morning and found her passed away,” Brainard told Today.com. “I’m still in shock.”
Just a few weeks ago, Zsa Zsa won the hearts of judges in Petaluma, California, when she earned the top prize at the 2018 World’s Ugliest Dog contest — and $1,500 for Brainard.
A puppy-mill dog, Zsa Zsa was rescued after five years by nonprofit Underdog Rescue.
“From the moment we saw her beautiful face, we knew we would be her forever home,” Brainard said after her pet won the contest at the Sonoma-Marin County Fair.
The nine-year-old canine died in her sleep Tuesday morning, owner Megan Brainard of Anoka, Minnesota told US media.
“I’m in shock still,” Brainard told CNN sister network HLN. “I haven’t even processed her winning and fame.”
The dog won the ugliness title at a contest last month in Petaluma, California.
Brainard told CNN then that the dog slobbered a lot because it had trouble keeping its tongue in its mouth.
Its upper teeth were almost horizontal and it also had a pronounced underbite.