Inbred and blind in one eye: Princess Abby is crowned World's Ugliest Dog of 2010

By Mail Foreign Service

We have a winner: Inbred Chihuahua Princess Abbey is officially the World's Ugliest Dog


An inbred Chihuahua's curved back and legs and closed-up left eye have earned the four-year-old rescue dog top honors at the World's Ugliest Dog contest at a Northern California fair.

Sporting a gray, brown and black coat, Princess Abby Francis beat a rough-looking raft of candidates for the prize, including Pabst, a teeth-bearing boxer mix who also competed last year.

Princess Abby shivered in the cool breeze after her win Friday night while nestled in the arms of her owner, Kathleen Francis, who received a $1,000 check at the 22nd annual contest held at the Sonoma-Marin Fair in Petaluma.


Strutting her stuff: The winning hound's permanently arched back and inverted floppy foot are the result of inbreeding


Big shoes to fill: Former winner Miss Ellie


The victory was a surprise to Francis. ‘I don't think she's ugly at all,’ she said. ‘I think she's the most beautiful dog.’

Francis says she adopted Princess Abby from her veterinarian about five months ago. This was the dog's first such contest since she was found running through the street.

Celebrity vet Karen Doc Halligan, who was also a judge for the contest, says the Chihuahua's problematic back, legs and eye may be due to being inbred.

‘She's a poster child to spay and neuter your pets,’ she said.
This year’s contest comes after the last winner’s reign was cut short by her death at the ripe old age of 17.

Chinese Crested Hairless hound Miss Ellie became the competition’s biggest celebrity after she was crowned last year.

Miss Ellie only had a couple of back teeth, cataracts in both her eyes, several moles and pimples, and limited hair.

But her owner Dawn Goehring proudly promoted her as a ‘spokesmodel for rescue dogs of the “not so cute” kind.’

'Her dream is to travel around to prove that ugly is just a word, and says nothing about how wonderful she is,' Dawn said in 2009.

'Miss Ellie hopes that people get the message that there are plenty of wonderful rescue dogs out there just waiting for a chance,' said.


She ain't pretty: Boxer mix Pabst also entered last year's contest


At the time, as well as winning a modeling contract from House Of Dog, Ellie also picked up a cheque for $1,000, a trophy to put in her kennel and even a professional photo shoot.

She went on to have a short but sweet career in resort show business in Colorado's Smoky Mountains, starring in shows at the Comedy Barn in Pigeon Forge.

She also appeared on The Animal Planet cable show 'Dogs 101' and was on billboards and in a commercial.

Pigeon Forge Mayor Keith Whaley proclaimed November 12 as 'Miss Ellie Day' for her owner's efforts to raise money for the local humane society.

Over the years, Ellie helped raise more than $100,000 (£68,000) for the Sevier County Humane Society.


Lookalikes: Two Chinese Crested Hairless hounds cuddle up to their owners


Maybe next year: Rascal, a pure-bred Chinese Crested Hairless dog with his owner Dane Andrew


source: dailymail