It's official. Quasi Modo of Loxahatchee Groves was named the World's Ugliest Dog for 2015 on Friday night at the Sonoma-Marin Fair in California.
Competing against 26 other less-than-perfect pooches, the 10-year-old mixed breed dog — who some say resembles a hyena — “epitomized excellence in ugliness,” said Chief Judge Brian Sobel.
The panel of judges rated the contestants on first impressions, unusual attributes, natural ugliness, personality and audience impression.
“We aren’t interested in lineage. It’s the inner beauty and personality that shine in our World’s Ugliest Dog Contest,” said Karen Spencer, Sonoma-Marin Fair marketing director.
Quasi and his owner, Ginnie Sayre, won $1,500. The pair is headed to San Francisco and New York on a media tour.
And, Quasi Modo will receive a makeover on “Jimmy Kimmel Live.”
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Quasi Modo is a 10-year-old pitbull/Dutch shepherd mix with a shortened torso and a perpetual smile. The brindle-coated pooch took second prize in last year’s competition.
Born with multiple defects in her spine, Quasi Modo was abandoned at Palm Beach County's Animal Care and Control, where she was adopted by Dr. Ginnie Sayre, one of the shelter's veterinarians.
"My back is too short for the rest of my body and the parts went together in the worst possible way," her online bio reads.
“In spite of this I still run, play and enjoy life to the fullest. My appearance can be a little unsettling to some (I have had grown men jump on top of their cars to get away from me because they thought I was a hyena or Tasmanian devil) but once they get to know me I win them over with my bubbly personality.”
You can catch a glimpse of Quasi Modo in this video from last year's competition.
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