In pictures: Peanut, the World’s ugliest dog

Wally, last year’s winner, walks on the red carpet. Josh Edelson / AFP Photo

Josie a Chinese Crested owned by Linda Elmquist from Tucson, Arizona. Peter DaSilva / EPA

Jon Adler from Davis California kisses Icky a Chinese Crested before the start of the contest. Peter DaSilva / EPA

Quasi Modo, whom the owner claims has a back too short for its body, walks on the stage. Josh Edelson / AFP Photo

Zoomer, a Chinese Crested, kisses Linda Elmquist before the start of the show. George Nikitin / AP Photo

Josie, a Chinese Crested sticks out its tongue. Josh Edelson / AFP Photo

Dane Andrew from Sunnyvale, California holds up Rascal a Chinese Crested for the judges. Peter DaSilva / EPA

Jason Wurtz from Encino, California, holds SweePee Rambo who took second place. Peter DaSilva / EPA

Grovie, a pug in a tuxedo. Josh Edelson / AFP Photo

Holly Chandler, the dog’s owner, hopes Peanut’s victory will help raise awareness about animal abuse.

It's that time of year again when dogs with unusually large heads, hairless bodies and other oddities compete to be the World's Ugliest Dog.

This year's winner? A two-year-old mongrel named Peanut, whose wild white and brown hair, bulging eyes and protruding teeth belie his sweet, energetic personality.

Although Peanut is healthy now, his owner, Holly Chandler of Greenville, North Carolina, says he was seriously burnt as a puppy, resulting in bald patches all over his body.

Chandler hopes Peanut's victory will help raise awareness about animal abuse. "We're trying to use him as a poster child for what can happen to animals who are abused," she said.

She plans to use the $1,500 prize to pay for other animals' veterinary bills.

The contest, held at the Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds in Petaluma, California, is in its 26th year.

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

The past five winners have included a duckfooted beagle, boxer and basset hound mix with a waddle, a Chinese crested and Chihuahua mix with a protruding tongue and short tufts of hair and a Chihuahua with a missing eye and a camel's back. Here are photos of this year's contestants and past years' winners.