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PETALUMA, Calif. (AP) — He's overweight and has a birth defect that left him a bit hunchbacked.
Quasi Modo is a 10-year-old pit bull-Dutch shepherd mix who was leading the World's Ugliest Dog contest, with nearly 10,000 votes by Friday. Resembling a hyena or Tasmanian devil, he can unsettle some people, but he makes up for it with a bubbly personality, his biography says.
Quasi Modo was far ahead of No. 2 Morris, a mutt who looks a little like a pig with a spiky haircut and has garnered more than 5,000 votes.
The two are among 27 dogs vying for the title of homeliest hound, which has been given to a pooch in the small California coastal town of Petaluma for decades. Dogs have arrived from as far as Florida, Idaho, Nevada and Arizona to compete in a contest that applauds imperfections.
The winner will receive $1,500 Friday night at the Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds.
Several of the competitors have been rescued from shelters, puppy mills or abusive homes. This year features a new "spirit award," honoring a dog and owner who have overcome obstacles or are providing service to the community.
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