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Worst In Show: The Best of the World's Ugliest Dog Contest

They’re the most tragic bragging rights in the canine universe: the World’s Ugliest Dog Contest crowned a new champ this weekend in Petaluma, California. VIEW OUR GALLERY featuring the most hideous dog of 2009, and a pack of impressively grotesque also-rans from across the years.

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Pabst, a four-year-old Boxer mix with a serious underbite, pulled out a shocking victory this year. He faced tough competition from 13 other ugly dogs, including the original World’s Ugliest Dog, Rascal, who has since parlayed his terrible looks into a Hollywood horror film career.

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Miss Ellie, a blind 15-year-old Chinese Crested Hairless, won for Ugliest Dog in the Pedigree class this year. According to her owner, Miss Ellie’s competitive strengths are “cataracts in her eyes, several moles and pimples, and limited hair.”

Noah Berger / AP Photo
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Rescued by the New Jersey SPCA during an animal-abuse investigation, Elwood is a 6-pound Chinese Crested who won the Ugliest Dog title in 2007.

Ben Margot / AP Photo
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From the tight pack of also-rans: Spam-O-Rama, a Chinese Crested.

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One-eyed, three-legged Chinese Crested Gus had the ugliest mug last year.

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Does the bling help? The rare Chinese Crested is a hairless breed that dominates the World’s Ugliest Dog Contest almost every year.

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Munchkin, an obese mixed-breed pooch believed to be part pug, part affenpinscher (“monkey dog”) belongs to the owner of fabled ugly dog Nana, a toothless champ of yore.

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Archie won the $1,000 prize in 2006. When his owner adopted him, the animal shelter gave her $10 for keeping him.

Justin Sullivan / Getty Images