Pets

‘Ugly’ dog wins a place in Slackwood hearts

Children learn from the world’s ugliest dog

By Chris Sturgis

Associate Editor

Elwood, the world’s ugliest dog, worked his magic on about 250 students at Slackwood Elementary School on Jan. 8.

Elwood’s owner, Karen Quigley of Sewell, presents him to various audiences and shares his story in a children’s book she co-wrote, called Everyone Loves Elwood, and on a Web site, loveelwood.com.

With a drooping tongue and wrinkled, bulging eyes, the two-year-old dog is an aesthetically unfortunate combination of two breeds, Chihuahua and Chinese crested. Quigley’s boyfriend discovered him while investigating an animal cruelty case.

Like Anna Sewell, who wrote Black Beauty to call attention to cruelty to horses in 19th Century London, Quigley is on a mission to use Elwood’s story to promote kindness to pets, even ugly ones.

While dozens of children sat cross-legged before her on the library carpet at Slackwood, Quigley read Everyone Loves Elwood while the title character nestled quietly in her arms.

“When Elwood was born, he was so ugly his owner didn’t want him anymore,” she read, drawing groans of outrage from the students. “We all look different, but aren’t we all wonderful?” she said.

Elwood was crowed world’s ugliest dog in June at the Marin-Sonoma County Fair in Petaluma, Calif. He is hairless, except for a tuft of white hair on top of his head, which Quigley likens to a Mohawk hair style.

A lack of teeth on one side of his lower jaw causes his tongue to hang from one side of his mouth. His expression is a combination of the Chihuahua’s saucy look and the Chinese crested’s wise, narrow eyes.

After hearing how Elwood was judged “unsellable” by a dog breeder, Slackwood students began to see life through his eyes. Many shared stories of their dogs, cats, parrots, and even an uncharacteristically speedy turtle that had run away from home.

The children asked to pet the world’s ugliest dog. They showed concern for him. How can eat he with missing teeth and a hanging tongue, they asked. Quigley said he can eat normally, but she hand feeds him to make it easier.

Despite Elwood’s rather laid-back personality, she thought he might be frightened by being patted by 250 children, their 500 hands, and 2,500 fingers. She told the students the skin of a hairless dog feels pretty much like a human arm. She suggested they pat themselves.

Elwood behaved perfectly for several hours and several appearances in the library. He neither barked nor soiled the carpet. Elwood’s appearance was arranged by Lynn Barrett, who works in the school office. She met Quigley at a greyhound rescue event.

“How can I get a dog like that?” Quigley said she is often asked.

“Right down at the local animal shelter, there are hundreds of dogs just as lovable as Elwood. “There are lots of homeless animals would love to be part of your family,” she said.