A California mutt ran off Sunday with the title of 2009 World's Ugliest Dog Champion, besting a former Chinese Crested ugliness champ, officials say. The judges at the Sonoma-Marin County Fair in California gave the award to Pabst, boxer-mix shelter dog from Citrus Heights, over Rascal, whose breed has dominated the Ugliest Dog competition in recent years, contest officials said in a release. Pabst was given his name because he had a bitter beer face, said owner Miles Egstad, a first-time contestant.

Organizers of this year's World's Ugliest Dog Contest in California said this year's entries include 15 aesthetically challenged canines. The contestants include 2002 champion Rascal, a purebred Chinese Crested from Sunnyvale, Calif., and other returning contenders Princess Chelsea of Fairfield, Calif., and Reggie and Veronica of Phoenix.

HIGHLAND, Calif., April 21 /PRNewswire/ -- RASCAL was proclaimed the Ugliest Dog, taking the top prize at the annual event held during the "Citrus Harvest Festival" in the San Bernardino county area outside of Los Angeles.

Elwood, a 2-year-old Chinese Crested and Chihuahua mix, was crowned the world's ugliest dog Friday, a distinction that delighted the New Jersey mutt's owners.

Sam, the tiny dog whose hairless body and crooked teeth earned him a reputation as the World's Ugliest Dog, has died. The pooch died Friday, just short of his 15th birthday, his owner said.