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Scamp the Tramp rests after winning the World's Ugliest Dog Contest at the Sonoma-Marin Fair in Petaluma, Calif., Friday, June 21, 2019. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

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Scamp the Tramp is held by Darlene Wright after winning the World's Ugliest Dog Contest at the Sonoma-Marin Fair in Petaluma, Calif., on Friday, June 21, 2019. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

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Puka prepares to compete in the World's Ugliest Dog Contest at the Sonoma-Marin Fair in Petaluma, Calif., on Friday, June 21, 2019. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

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Wild Thang, a 3-year-old Pekingese, competes in the World's Ugliest Dog Contest with owner Ann Lewis at the Sonoma-Marin Fair in Petaluma, Calif., Friday, June 21, 2019. Wild Thing went on to win second place. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

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Tee Tee prepares to compete in the World's Ugliest Dog Contest at the Sonoma-Marin Fair in Petaluma, Calif., Friday, June 21, 2019. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

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Scamp the Tramp is held after taking top honors in the World's Ugliest Dog Contest at the Sonoma-Marin Fair in Petaluma, Calif., Friday, June 21, 2019. At left is Kerry Sanders, a reporter who served as one of the judges. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

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Dane Andrew holds Rascal aloft while competing in the World's Ugliest Dog Contest at the Sonoma-Marin Fair in Petaluma, Calif., Friday, June 21, 2019. Andrew says that although Rascal has taken top honors in eight competitions, he has yet to win Petaluma. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

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Himisaboo, who also goes by Trump Dog, competes in the World's Ugliest Dog Contest at the Sonoma-Marin Fair in Petaluma, Calif., Friday, June 21, 2019. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

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Scamp the Tramp celebrates after taking top honors in the World's Ugliest Dog Contest at the Sonoma-Marin Fair in Petaluma, Calif., Friday, June 21, 2019. At left is Kerry Sanders, one of the judges. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

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Dane Andrew kisses his dog Rascal before the start of the World's Ugliest Dog Contest at the Sonoma-Marin Fair, Friday, June 21, 2019 in Petaluma, Calif. Andrew says that although Rascal has taken top honors in eight competitions, he has yet to win Petaluma. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

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FILE - In this June 23, 2108, file photo, Zsa Zsa, an English bulldog, is carried by owner Megan Brainard during the World's Ugliest Dog Contest at the Sonoma-Marin Fair in Petaluma, Calif. Nineteen contestants featuring droopy tongues, bowed legs, perpetually confused looks and other strange attributes are going nose-to-nose in the annual competition Friday, June 21, 2109. Most competitors were previously abandoned or rescued from kill shelters in the U.S. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

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FILE - In this June 23, 2018, file photo Rascal Deux is held by owner Dane Andrew before competing in the World's Ugliest Dog Contest at the Sonoma-Marin Fair in Petaluma, Calif. Nineteen contestants featuring droopy tongues, bowed legs, perpetually confused looks and other strange attributes are going nose-to-nose in the annual competition Friday, June 21, 2109. Most competitors were previously abandoned or rescued from kill shelters in the U.S. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu,File)

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FILE - In this June 23, 218 file photo, Himisaboo, a Chinese crested and dachshund mix, walks onstage during the World's Ugliest Dog Contest at the Sonoma-Marin Fair in Petaluma, Calif. Nineteen contestants featuring droopy tongues, bowed legs, perpetually confused looks and other strange attributes are going nose-to-nose in the annual competition Friday, June 21, 2109. Most competitors were previously abandoned or rescued from kill shelters in the U.S. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu,File)

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FILE - In this June 23, 2018, file photo, Zsa Zsa, an English Bulldog owned by Megan Brainard, stands onstage after being announced the winner of the World's Ugliest Dog Contest at the Sonoma-Marin Fair in Petaluma, Calif. The new World’s Ugliest Dog will be chosen in the Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds, Ca, on Friday, June 21, 2019.(AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File)

The Latest: Scamp the Tramp wins California Ugly Dog Contest

By Associated Press Lexington

PUBLISHED 12:17 AM ET Jun. 22, 2019

The Latest on the Ugly Dog Contest in California (all times local):

9:15 p.m.

Scamp the Tramp's looks have made him a winner — but it wasn't a beauty contest.

The snaggle-haired, bug-eyed pooch took the top prize Friday at the 31st annual World's Ugliest Dog contest in Petaluma, California.

Owner Yvonne Morones of Santa Rosa won an appearance with Scamp on the "Today" show, $1,500 in cash, another $1,500 to donate to an animal shelter — and bragging rights.

Scamp, an adopted street dog, beat out 18 other contestants who showed off their droopy tongues, bowed legs and other strange attributes.

Organizers say the contest isn't just skin-deep. It's also about bringing attention to the needs of rescue dogs. Most competitors were previously abandoned or rescued from kill shelters in the U.S.

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10:21 a.m.

Things are starting to get ugly in the picturesque California town of Petaluma.

Indeed, the place will go to the dogs when the winner of what's being billed as the World's Ugliest Dog Contest is announced Friday night.

Nineteen contestants featuring droopy tongues, bowed legs, perpetually confused looks and other strange attributes are going nose-to-nose in the annual competition.

Most competitors were previously abandoned or rescued from kill shelters in the U.S.

First they'll walk the red carpet and preen for adoring fans at Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds in the heart of Northern California wine country.

The winner gets $1,500, a trophy the size of a Rottweiler, and a future appearance on the "Today" show.

Publicist Cindy Gentry says the competition is about bringing attention to the needs of rescue dogs.

Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.