Homely dog is sitting pretty in Pinellas

TV, it seems, can't get enough of Gus, the one-eyed, three-legged, hairless Chinese crested just named the World's Ugliest Dog.

Gus and his owners, Jeanenne Teed of St. Petersburg and her 16-year-old daughter, Janey, faced an NBC camera crew Monday morning in Largo's Central Park for a live appearance on Today. An hour later, the same camera crew filmed them for MSNBC.

Gus and family were also featured on the Fox network's Fox & Friends.

"How's he doing with his newfound title, World's Ugliest Dog, is he okay with that?'' NBC's Al Roker asked Monday.

"He's trying to recover from all the excitement. It's been quite a whirlwind of fame for him,'' Jeanenne Teed replied.

Gus earned his crown Friday at the Sonoma-Marin County Fair in Petaluma, Calif. NBC flew Gus and the Teeds across the country to New York for an appearance on Sunday's Today show. The network wanted them to stay over for another interview on Monday's show. But Janey, tired of all the travel, just wanted to come home.

So NBC had a camera crew film them here, while Roker asked the questions from New York.

Jeanenne Teed explained why the interview was held in Largo.

"After we arrived home from New York last night, Janey spent the night with a friend near Clearwater, and it was decided that Largo Central Park seemed like a convenient place to meet'' for the interview, said Teed, 46.

Once again the center of attention was 9-year-old Gus. Two years ago, Gus was diagnosed with skin cancer that cost him his left hind leg. In December, Gus got into a fight with a cat and lost his left eye.

The Teeds considered last week's trip to Northern California a summer vacation.

"I had told Janey we'd go to San Francisco, and we planned on staying near Point Reyes for a few days after the contest,'' Jeanenne Teed said. "But after Gus won, NBC wanted us, and we were flown to New York. Life changes in a heartbeat."

Can the paparazzi plan on more Gus sightings?

"At this time, we're going home to nap. … And I promised both Gus and Janey pedicures later,'' Jeanenne Teed joked. "Gus is cute as a bug, but right now, we're overwhelmed and need to de-stress.''