My appearance can be unsettling to some: World's Ugliest Dog

The World's Ugliest Dog Contest was held at California on June 26 and a hunchbacked mutt Quasi Modo won $1,500 along with the title.

A spinal birth defect had left 10-year-old Quasi Modo, hunchbacked. The defect turned into a boon when On June 26, Quasi won the World's Ugliest Dog Contest and his owner took home $1,500.

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Quasi, a pit bull-Dutch shepherd mix, competed with 25 other dogs in the contest that applauds imperfection, organizers said.

Abandoned at an animal shelter, Quasi Modo was then adopted by a veterinarian in Loxahatchee, Florida, according to his biography posted on the contest's website.

"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," his biography said.

Two Chinese crested and Chihuahua mixes named Sweepee Rambo and Frodo took the second and third place prizes, respectively.

An 8-year-old Chihuahua named Precious received the "spirit award," honoring a dog and owner who have overcome obstacles and/or are providing service to the community. Precious, who is blind in one eye, is trained to monitor smells related to low blood sugar levels and alert her owner, a disabled veteran, of the problem, her biography said.

The contest, held at the Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds in Petaluma, California, is in its 27th year.

The dogs are scored by a three-judge panel in several categories, including special or unusual attributes, personality and natural ugliness.