A face only a mother could love: 17-year-old pet scoops World's UGLIEST Dog contest
A WINNER for the World's Ugliest Dog Competition, held in Petaluma, California, has been crowned this year.
World’s Ugliest Dog crowned in Caifornia competition
After a two-year break caused by the pandemic, the annual contest in Sonoma County city went ahead on Friday. Several so-ugly-they’re-adorable dogs went head-to-head to compete for the title.
Mr Happy Face - a 17-year-old Chinese Crested dog - took the top spot and his owner was thrilled.
The pooches' owner, Jeneda Benally took home the $1,500 (£1,223) prize money after taking the crown as the ugliest contestant - despite there being several worthy runners-up.
A fluffy pup named Wild Thang was awarded second prize during the day's events.
Scotch Haley's pup - Monkey - came in at third place.
The contest promotes adoption of animals over buying from a breeder.
The winner Mr Happy Face was adopted by owner Jeneda after he was rescued from a hoarder's home.
Comedians Grace Helbig and Mamrie Hart hosted the competition this year.
The Sonoma-Marin Fair in Petaluma has celebrated lovable, but ugly pups for three decades.
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The day's events kicked off with a Pet Fest at the fair’s Kiwanis Stage lawn, where the public got a chance to see the contestants.
The pups then took part in a red carpet walk before the judging began.
The contest also includes a special 'Spirit Award' and 'People's Choice' award voted for by the public.
The contest’s last winner was Scamp the Tramp, a small mutt with dreadlocks owned by a Santa Rosa woman.
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A Minnesota-based English bulldog called Zsa Zsa took the crown after going up against 13 other pups the previous year, in 2018.
He was a rescue, plucked from a puppy mill and found by owner Megan Brainard on petfinder.com.
Martha, a 125lb Neapolitan Mastiff won judges over in 2017 when she flopped on the stage during her presentation.
After placing second in 2015, another 17-year-old Chinese crested pooch won the top prize with a milky right eye, big ears and a little tongue constantly hanging out its mouth.
In 2015, a 10-year-old hunchback pit bull-Dutch shepherd mix called Quasi Modo beat 26 other dogs to the top spot landing a makeover by fashion guru Carson Kressley on the popular US show Jimmy Kimmel Live.'