I read a trending news headline about a competition that was held in Petaluma, California this past week called the "World's Ugliest Dog® Contest" and at first I was taken aback. Immediately I thought that it was so cruel to run a contest that judges an animal in such a negative fashion. As a dog lover who usually prefers playing with dogs over human interaction, it made me upset to see this headline.

Despite my initial grievance, I read more about the headline and realized my judgements were unjustified. The competition isn't about dog shaming whatsoever! According to organizers, the contest applauds imperfection and raises awareness for adopting dogs that are typically seen as unattractive.

“We celebrate the spirit and imperfections that make these dogs loveable and adoptable,” said CEO Sarah Cummings.

The dogs in this competition don't have to meet American Kennel Club pedigree standards to have a spot in the limelight; they get the chance to proudly strut down the red carpet, embracing their unique attributes.

“We aren’t interested in lineage, it’s the inner beauty and personality that shine in our World’s Ugliest Dog® Contest,” said marketing director Karen Spencer.

I think it's great that this competition exists because it isn't about crowning a best dog, but rather about celebrating all dogs no matter what shape or size. It's not always easy seeing the beauty in something that may be unappealing to the eye, but I'm glad that people are proving it is doable. The ability to be accepting of, and see beauty in anything is a quality that we can learn from and try to apply to every aspect of life. Dogs always seem to offer such remarkable insight.