Each year the World’s Ugliest Dog Contest — which is exactly what it sounds like — is held at the Sonoma-Marin Fair in California. As the kind of dog lovers who believe that the more an animal resembles a gremlin, the cuter and more desirable it is, this annual competition, which is sponsored by Animal Planet, is one of our very favorite things. Click through to get a better look at this year’s winner, Yoda — who was apparently mistaken for a rat when she was first found abandoned behind an apartment building — as well as some of the other canine lookers who have earned the esteemed title.
2011 – Yoda, a Chinese crested-Chihuahua mix

Image via Connecticut Post
2010 – Princess Abby, a gray, brown and black Chihuahua
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2009 – Pabst, a boxer mix
Image via MSN
2008 – Gus, a one-eyed, three-legged Chinese crested dog
Image via Pet Sugar
2007 – Elwood, a Chinese crested-Chihuahua mix
Image via SFGate
2006 – Archie, a Chinese crested dog
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2003 – 2005 – Sam, a blind Chinese crested dog
Image via OregonLive
2002 – Rascal, a Chinese crested dog
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2001 – Nana, a “Canardly,” as in “you can’ardly tell her pedigree”
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