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.
Image Credit: AP Photo/George Nikitin
June 22, 2014 - 8:32 AM
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.
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.
Here are photos of this year's contestants and past years' winners.
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.
Image Credit: AP Photo/George Nikitin
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.
Image Credit: AP Photo/George Nikitin
This Friday, June 21, 2013 file photo shows "Walle" posing for a portrait while competing in the World's Ugliest Dog Contest at the Sonoma-Marin Fair on Friday, June 21, 2013, in Petaluma, Calif.
Image Credit: AP Photo/Noah Berger
In this Friday, June 24, 2011, a judge evaluates "Yoda" during the 2011 World's Ugliest Dog Contest in Petaluma, Calif.
Image Credit: AP Photo/Noah Berger
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.
Image Credit: AP Photo/Noah Berger
In this Friday, June 22, 2007 file photo, Chinese Crested dog "Elwood" appears at the 2007 World's Ugliest Dog Contest in Petaluma, Calif.
Image Credit: AP Photo/Ben Margot
News from © The Associated Press, 2014