World's Ugliest Pets

The World's Ugliest Dog Contest is an annual contest held since the 1970s that takes place at the Sonoma-Marin Fair in Petaluma, California during the fourth week of June. One dog is crowned “The World’s Ugliest Dog” and its owner receives a trophy, a check for $1,600 (in 2017), and a free trip to New York City. There is significant media coverage, and as many as 20,000–30,000 people attend the contest during the fair each year. The fair now holds an all-day Dog Lovers' Festival preceding the evening contest. In 2009 the Sonoma-Marin Fair trademarked the phrase World's Ugliest Dog. An anniversary book titled "World's Ugliest Dogs" was published in 2013, featuring text by the producer of the past seven years, Vicki DeArmon, and photos from World's Ugliest Dog Contests of years past.