21 June 2014

World's Ugliest Dog

 In this Friday, June 26, 2009 file photo, "Pabst" competes in the World's Ugliest Dog Contest at the Sonoma-Marin Fair in Petaluma, Calif. The toothy 4-year-old Boxer mix won top honors. The 25th running of the World's Ugliest Dog contest takes place Friday, June 20, 2014, at the Sonoma County Fair in Petaluma, Calif.
It's that time of year again when dogs with unusually large heads, hairless bodies and other oddities compete to be the World's Ugliest Dog.

This year's winner? A 2-year-old mutt named Peanut, whose wild white and brown hair, bulging eyes and protruding teeth belie his sweet, energetic personality.

Although Peanut is healthy now, his owner, Holly Chandler of Greenville, North Carolina, says he was seriously burned as a puppy, resulting in bald patches all over his body.

Chandler hopes Peanut's victory will help raise awareness about animal abuse.

"We're trying to use him as a poster child for what can happen to animals who are abused," she said.
Peanut, a two-year-old mutt poses in front of the winning trophies, after winning the World's Ugliest Dog Contest, at the Sonoma-Marin Fair, Friday, June 20, 2014, in Petaluma, Calif. Peanut is from North Carolina.


She plans to use the $1,500 prize to pay for other animals' veterinary bills.

The contest, held at the Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds in Petaluma, California, is in its 26th year.

The dogs are scored by a three-judge panel in several categories, including special or unusual attributes, personality and natural ugliness.

The past five winners have included a duck-footed beagle, boxer and basset hound mix with a waddle, a Chinese crested and Chihuahua mix with a protruding tongue and short tufts of hair and a Chihuahua with a missing eye and a camel's back. 
(AP)
Peanut, a two-year-old mutt is held by Holly Chandler after winning the World's Ugliest Dog Contest, at the Sonoma-Marin Fair, Friday, June 20, 2014, in Petaluma, Calif. Chandler and Peanut are from North Carolina. SweePee Rambo, a Chihuahua/Chinese Crested mix, is held by the owner, during World's Ugliest Dog Contest, at the Sonoma-Marin Fair, Friday, June 20, 2014, in Petaluma, Calif. Quasi Modo, an eight-year-old mix breed, stands by his owner before the World's Ugliest Dog Contest, at the Sonoma-Marin Fair, Friday, June 20, 2014, in Petaluma, Calif. Quasi Modo, was born with a birth defect to her spine. Zoomer, a Chinese Crested, kisses Linda Elmquist before the start of the World's Ugliest Dog Contest, at the Sonoma-Marin Fair, Friday, June 20, 2014, in Petaluma, Calif. Josie, a Chinese Crested from Tucson, Arizona, waits before the start of the World's Ugliest Dog Contest, at the Sonoma-Marin Fair, Friday, June 20, 2014, in Petaluma, Calif. Icky, a Chinese Crested looks over the shoulder of Jon Adler, his owner, before the start of the World's Ugliest Dog Contest, at the Sonoma-Marin Fair, Friday, June 20, 2014, in Petaluma, Calif. Grovie, an eleven-year-old Chinese Pug, from Santa Rosa, California, is photographed before the start of the World's Ugliest Dog Contest, at the Sonoma-Marin Fair, Friday, June 20, 2014, in Petaluma, Calif.