Quasi Modo Wins 'World's Ugliest Dog' Contest!

Quasi Modo, a hunched-back hyena-looking hound, bested 26 other canines in the World’s Ugliest Dog competition held Friday at the Sonoma-Marin Fair in Petaluma.

After much deliberation, Chief Judge Brian Sobel said the Florida dog “epitomized excellence in ugliness.”

The dogs, and their owners, were competing for a $1,500 purse and a makeover on Jimmy Kimmel Live. Runners up received smaller cash prizes and gifts from Paradise Pet Resorts, according to fair spokesperson Karen Spencer. Spencer said judges weren’t interested in either mutt or pedigree lineage.

The dogs were judged on their first impression, unusual attributes, “natural ugliness,” personality and audience impression.

• Previous: One Ugly Competition: ‘World’s Ugliest Dog’ Contest Is Friday At Sonoma-Marin Fair

Quasi Modo’s outer ugly topped a competition favorite, Rascal Deux, a dog from the San Francisco Bay Area, who is a 5th generation winner in a family of dogs that have won previous contests. Several of the entries had been rescued from shelters, puppy mills and abusive homes. The contest, in addition to celebrating the dog’s lovable personalities, is intended to raise awareness about dog adoptions, according to event organizers.

Quasi Modo is a 10-year-old, pit-Dutch shepherd mix breed, from Loxahatchee, Fl., that was abandoned at an animal shelter before being taken home by one of the veterinarians. Her odd appearance is primarily due to the fact that she has multiple defects in her spine, causing her back to be too short for the rest of her body. Despite her funny appearance, owner, Virginia Sayer, loves her dearly.

Following the contest, Quasi Modo is expected to appear on national television outlets in San Francisco and New York.

Click here to see a highlight photos and videos of the contest and the winners of this year’s World’s Ugliest Dog Contest.

--Bay City News and Positively Petaluma contributed to this report.