Meet The ‘World’s Ugliest Dog [PHOTO]

Quasi Modo, whom the owner claims has a back too short for its body, walks on the stage at The World’s Ugliest Dog Competition in Petaluma, California

If you have to be ugly, you might as well be the best at it. A 10-year old, hunchbacked, mixed breed dog named “Quasi Modo” was awarded first place at the World’s Ugliest Dog Competition on Friday, according to a press release for the Petaluma, California, event. Quasi, whose short spine makes her resemble a hyena, “epitomized excellence in ugliness” Chief Judge Brian Sobel said. The designation won $1,500 for her owner.

This wasn’t Quasi’s first rodeo. Last year, the spunky Florida pup won second place, losing out to small, wild-eyed dog named Peanut. Quasi’s pageant bio says that despite the multiple birth defects that contribute to her odd appearance, she is a happy dog who loves to run and play. She also works as an “ambassador for teaching people about acceptance and tolerance for things that are different,” according to the bio.

Veterinarian Virginia Sayre and her husband, Mike Carroll, adopted Quasi from Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control about nine years ago, according to a Palm Beach County press release. The lovable dog “gets along well with everybody,” but sometimes other people are alarmed by her appearance, Sayre told The Palm Beach Post last year.

“People who love dogs get her, but I’ve had grown men jump on top of a truck to get away from her. They don’t know what to make of her,” Sayre said. Though the press release and the Associated Press both initially identified Quasi as male, the dog is female, Andrian Guthrie, who worked at Palm Beach County Animal Care when Quasi lived there, told The Huffington Post in an email.