Youths attack ugly dog contest winner

One of Britain's ugliest dogs is recovering today after he was attacked by a gang of youths who pulled out his only clump of hair, his owner said.

Mugly, who was named Britain's Ugliest Dog by a national newspaper in 2005, was set on by a gang of teenagers after he went missing from his home in Peterborough, Cambs.

The five-year-old Shitzu-Chinese Crested cross was rescued by a passer-by who saved him from the teenagers who were punching and kicking him in a nearby park.

"They even pulled out his clump of hair," said owner Bev Nicholson, 46. "It was the only hair he had."

She said: "Mugly leapt out of the lounge window last Thursday. He must have seen someone outside because he is a real 'people dog'.

"We searched high and low for hours and put posters up around the neighbourhood.

"I was convinced he had ended up under a car.

"About five hours after he went missing I got a phone call from a lady saying: 'I think I found your dog in a park, but don't get too excited because I had to pry him away from five 11-15-year-olds who were kicking him, punching him and hitting him with a stick'."

Mrs Nicholson said she took Mugly to the vets where he was treated for bruises and a couple of sores.

She added: "I just can't understand why people would do that. If it were my children they'd have brought him straight home - not attacked him."

"Mugly's bruises are really coming out now. He is a little jumpy but in the circumstances he is doing really well.

"People might say he is ugly but when you spend a minute with him you think he's gorgeous because of his personality."