Who is the ugliest dog of all?

One look at these canines and there is no doubt they won't be winning any awards at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.

But lucky for them, there is one contest happy to have these homely mutts participate - the World's Ugliest Dog Contest.

Though the roots of this anti-beauty contest go back to the 1970s as a program of the Old Adobe Association, this year marks the 25th anniversary of the World's Ugliest Dog Contest being a part of the Sonoma-Marin Fair's festivities. Over those two-and-a-half decades, the contest has gone from quirky community event to international sensation, with contestants coming from across the country and around the world with hopes that their dog meets the definition of "World's Ugliest."

To celebrate the 25th anniversary, Vicki DeArmon, marketing director for the fair and the contest, has written a book, "World's Ugliest Dogs."

"It's a fascinating thing to think that out of our small town Petaluma came this amazing force," said DeArmon. "Every year there's international hoopla around the World's Ugliest Dog Contest."

DeArmon was on her way to New York for a book expo when the idea of creating a book about the contest came up. An agent she sat next to on the plane, who was also heading to the expo, convinced her that she needed to write a book about the World's Ugliest Dog Contest.

"I could see the benefit of a book, so I agreed to do it," said DeArmon. "There's a little chuckle the world gets from the contest and a book lets that persist the whole year. What they wanted for the book originally was a bunch of ugly dog faces, but what they got was the inside scoop on the contest and its contestants. The book is very charming in that way - to see people holding their dogs on stage and the crowd cheering them on. I think the book also measures the publicity for the contest, which over the years went through the roof nationally and internationally."

The 156-page book is chock full of color photos of the contestants, as well as stories about the contest, rising media coverage, background on the World's Ugliest Dog Contest winners, and the fame that follows these ugly mutts. For instance, the 2002 contest winner, Rascal, went on to star in several television shows and horror films.

The book also talks about how the contest is used to raise awareness of the many adoptable dogs (ugly and non-ugly) that are waiting at local animal shelters to find a permanent home.

"Many people who haven't been to the contest are not aware that it does good for the rescue dog effort," said DeArmon. "During the judging intervals we have the Beauty and the Beast rescue walk, which features Sonoma County beauty pageant contestants walking the runway with a dog in need of a home."

The "World's Ugliest Dog" book is now available at Copperfield's Books and Amazon - just in time for the opening of the Sonoma-Marin Fair on Wednesday, June 19, and the 25th annual World's Ugliest Dog Contest on June 21. This year's fair is appropriately themed, "Dog Days of Summer."

The canine festivities kick off at noon on June 21 with a Dog Lovers' Festival at the Kiwanis Stage on the Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds. The event features presentations on dog topics ranging from training to feeding; booths with dog-friendly merchandise and services; adoptions at the Sonoma Humane Society's "Tail Waggin"; prizes; a Paws as Loving Support booth where kids can read to dogs; and "Paw-tographing" with contestant dogs signing copies of the "World's Ugliest Dog" book. There will also be a Dog Days of Summer exhibit in the adjacent Beverly C. Wilson building celebrating dogs as well as the history of the contest.

Pre-contest events begin with a meet and greet with this year's hosts Bob & Sheri, who are syndicated radio personalities heard locally on The Mix radio. The vet check of contestants begins at 4:30 p.m. with Dr. Matthew Carter of Central Animal Hospital in Petaluma. The red carpet walk begins at 5:30 p.m., with the World's Ugliest Dog Contest officially starting at 6 p.m.

The judges this year include, Jon Provost, better known as Timmy from "Lassie," fair board member Brian Sobel, and a yet-to-be-named surprise judge.

In addition to the title of World's Ugliest, the top dog (and it's human) will win a $1,500 cash prize plus a trophy, which DeArmon said is usually several times bigger than the dog. The contest winner will also receive a photo session with photographer Kira Stachouse and a VIP overnight stay in the pet-friendly suite of the Sheraton Sonoma County - Petaluma Hotel. The hotel chef will prepare a dog-friendly meal for the winner.

"The winner and its human is flown to New York the next day to be guests on the Today Show," added DeArmon. "We have 20 contestants signed up so far, but by contest time we will probably have about 30."

Got an ugly dog? Registration in advance for the contest is free. To enter an ugly dog, visit www.sonoma-marinfair.org to sign up. Registration on the day of the contest requires a $20 fee.

To get a peak at the competition so far, residents can go to the fair website to view and vote for their favorite ugly dogs.

"The first chapter of my book raises 'the question of ugly' and why we celebrate it," said DeArmon. "The contest is about loving dogs and humor. These dogs are some of the best loved dogs. Their owners absolutely adore them. It's a hilarious, fun and good-natured contest."

For more information on the contest, visit www.sonoma-marinfair.org.

(Contact Yovanna Bieberich at yovanna.bieber ich@arguscourier.com)

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