An Elegy To Zsa Zsa, The World’s Ugliest Dog

Zsa Zsa, the English bulldog who last month was crowned World’s Ugliest Dog, has died.

She passed away peacefully in her sleep Tuesday morning, as reported by Today. Zsa Zsa’s nine fruitful years were forged in hardship — she spent her first five years in a puppy mill, before finding her family by way of a nonprofit.

But Zsa Zsa’s life was defined not by struggles, but by an effervescence nothing less than emotional philanthropy. Her face brought smiles to every room and sidewalk she sauntered across, not to mention the last three weeks of worldwide attention.

Owner Megan Brainard told Today that Zsa Zsa’s passing was “devastating”.

“I’m still in shock,” she said. “It’s kind of like when she won [the World’s Ugliest Dog contest]. It’s been two weeks and I still don’t believe it. It’s probably going to be the same with her passing.”

An intimate farewell has already taken place in Zsa Zsa’s home in Anoka, Minnesota. It was attended by Brainard, her husband and their one-year-old daughter, Mareslie.

“I picked Zsa Zsa up and took her outside and laid her down in the grass,” says Brainard. “We were all saying our goodbyes and Mareslie went right over and gave her a kiss. It was sweet. She was waving at her.”

Zsa Zsa — who’s namesake is Zsa Zsa Gabor — had entered the World’s Ugliest Dog competition before, but 2018 was her year. Her hanging tongue and crooked teeth are the product of a pronounced underbite — Brainard told Today that small children often gave Zsa Zsa’s tongue a handshake.

“She knew she was special,” said Brainard. “She never really showed much excitement but yes, she was definitely living it up after she won.”

Vale.

Do children shake Zsa Zsa’s tongue? Yes! #WorldsUgliestDog winner, Zsa Zsa, his here with her owners! pic.twitter.com/iNXCWynvoE

— TODAY (@TODAYshow) June 25, 2018