Slideshow: Miss Ellie, former 'World’s Ugliest Dog' winner, dies at age 17

The winner of several 'ugliest dog' contests last year has died at the age of 17.

Miss Ellie won her coveted titles over 60,000 other contestants and was currently starring in a comedy show in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.

UK tabloid The Sun reports that the bug-eyed, pimply Chinese Crested Hairless also helped raised more than $100,000 for animal charities, including the Humane Society.

Miss Ellie’s owner, Dawn Goehiring has plans to open an animal shelter in her memory, according to the Sun.

Reports indicate Miss Ellie will be cremated.

June 6, 5:47 PM Tabloid Headlines Examiner, Cindy Adams

A retired show dog looking for good home.

BREED: Collie
PRICE: $100.00
AGE: 8Year(s) - 10Month(s)
LOCATION: Waynesboro, Pennsylvania
GENDER: Female
DATE OF BIRTH: 01-Aug-2001
COLOR: Sable/White
DESCRIPTION:
Fancy is a beautiful Sable and White Rough Coat Collie. She is 8 1/2 years old, she will be 9 in August. She is a retired show dog, has some points from the ring. She is debarked so when she barks it is a whisper. She is a very sweet and loving girl. She is looking for her forever home to live out the rest of her life. I call her my "polite collie" becuase she is so nice. She is leash trained and housebroken.

More information on www.e-dogsite.com

Cats die, but dog saves woman in shelter fire

BERKELEY -- A dozen cats died in a fire that destroyed part of the Berkeley-East Bay Humane Society early today, authorities said, but a woman who lives above the animal shelter is crediting her pit bull mix with waking her up and saving her life.

The fire broke out in a dryer at the shelter at 2700 9th Street in west Berkeley at about midnight, said Berkeley Assistant Fire Chief Sabina Imrie.

The blaze killed 12 cats that were waiting to be adopted. It destroyed the cat sheltering area, laundry facilities and offices, shelter officials said. Damage was estimated at $500,000, Imrie said.

About 10 other cats and all 14 of the dogs that were at the facility were rescued by firefighters and 10 shelter volunteers. "It was an immediate response by the volunteers, who worked side by side with fire and evacuated animals," Imrie said.

Those animals are being cared for by shelter staff or and at a veterinary emergency service.

Johanna White, who lives in an apartment above the shelter, was sleeping when her pit bull-boxer mix, Baby, began barking after the fire broke out. White had been sick and didn't hear the smoke detectors in her home that were sounding, Imrie said.

"The dog started whimpering and jumping on her," Imrie said.

White told reporters that had it not been for her dog, she could have slept through the fire.

"I'm just so grateful that my dog woke me up," White said. "I'm just so, so lucky that I have a good dog. I was not a dog fan either. She's my husband's and my daughter's dog. I might have to reevaluate my stance." White said only she and Baby were home at the time of the fire. "She's definitely a keeper," White said of her dog. "She adopted us, too -- a couple of years ago, she just showed up."

The animal shelter is currently without water, electricity and phone service. Shelter employees have taken in several cats and are asking for donations and volunteers to temporarily foster the displaced animals. More information is available at www.berkeleyhumane.org.

E-mail Henry Lee at hlee@sfchronicle.com



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