Peanut, a 2-year-old mutt, competed against 29 other garbage dump dogs to win the coveted title of the Sonoma-Marin Fair's "World's Ugliest Dog." Congratulations, Peanut! You little monster!

The dogs were scored by a three-judge panel—composed of Brian Sobel, a member of the fair board, San Francisco Giants' in-game television reporter Amy Gutierrez, and Good Morning America's Cameron Mathison—based on special or unusual attributes, personality, and "natural ugliness." Peanut was the runaway favorite in the just-for-fun online poll, and was crowned the winner on Friday night.

Peanut, who is described by the AP as sweet and energetic, lived in an animal shelter for nine months before he found a home. He was seriously burned as a puppy, and his owner, Holly Chandler of Greenville, North Carolina, hopes that his win raises awareness. She said, "We're trying to use him as a poster child for what can happen to animals who are abused."

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

[images via AP]