This is the world’s ugliest dog

California

 Quasi Modo, a mixed-breed dog from Florida, won a contest for the world’s ugliest dog on Friday for defining "ugliness."

 The 10-year-old pit bull-Dutch shepherd mix won the title from a pool of 27 underdogs at the annual World’s Ugliest Dog contest at the Sonoma-Marin Fair in Petaluma, California.

 The dogs were judged on first impressions, unusual attributes, natural ugliness, personality and audience impression, according to the event’s website.

 “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, marketing director for Sonoma-Marin Fair, organizer of the event.

Quasi Modo’s owner found him at an animal shelter, according to his biography on the contest’s website.

 “Luckily, one of the veterinarians there saw the sparkle in my eyes and took me home,” his bio says.

 He has multiple birth defects to his spine and his back is too short for the rest of his body.

 “In spite of this I still run, play and enjoy life to the fullest.”

 Grown-ups have mistaken him for a hyena or Tasmanian devil and jumped on their cars to get away from him, “but once they get to know me I win them over with my bubbly personality,” the bio says.

 “I have become a great ambassador for teaching people about acceptance and tolerance for things that are different. You should never judge a book by its cover! Just because an animal or person looks different doesn’t mean they’re any less deserving of love.”