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Scamp the Tramp named the world's 'ugliest dog'

Scamp The Tramp is seen on stage after being announced the winner of the World's Ugliest Dog Competition in Petaluma, California on June 21, 2019. (Photo by JOSH EDELSON / AFP)        (Photo credit should read JOSH EDELSON/AFP/Getty Images)
Scamp The Tramp is seen on stage after being announced the winner of the World's Ugliest Dog Competition in Petaluma, California on June 21, 2019. (AFP)

Matted fur, a lolloping tongue - this is the world’s ‘ugliest dog’.

Scamp the Tramp was crowned winner at the event in Petaluma, California, after being declared uglier than his 18 competitors.

A former stray with a messy mane that "no amount of conditioner can calm," his owner, Yvonne Morones, said that she rescued Scamp the mongrel at the "last hour" from a Los Angeles animal shelter and has no regrets about the way it's all turned out.

Last year the contest was won by Zsa Zsa, an English bulldog.

"It was on the way home that I knew I made the right choice," Morones said. "There we were, two strangers in a car on the way home to a new start ... It was like he knew he had found his forever home."

TOPSHOT - Darlene Wright holds up Scamp the Tramp as it is announced that he won first prize in the World's Ugliest Dog Competition in Petaluma, California on June 21, 2019. (Photo by JOSH EDELSON / AFP)        (Photo credit should read JOSH EDELSON/AFP/Getty Images)
TOPSHOT - Darlene Wright holds up Scamp the Tramp as it is announced that he won first prize in the World's Ugliest Dog Competition in Petaluma, California on June 21, 2019. (AFP)

Scamp has been a pet therapist for seven years, serving at the Sebastopol Senior Center and bringing his brand of ugly to help those in need. He also volunteers weekly to listen to first graders read stories, his bio says.

But Scamp will have to put his philanthropy on hold as he ventures out to make his television debut on NBC's "Today" show Monday morning.

In addition to bragging rights, Scamp has also won a trophy, and $1,500, which will be matched in a donation split between the Humane Society of Sonoma County, Angels Fund, and Compassion Without Borders.

Two other dogs, Wild Thang and Tostito, came close to winning the coveted crown.

A dog named Tostito, who has no teeth or lower jaw, is seen during the World's Ugliest Dog Competition in Petaluma, California on June 21, 2019. (Photo by JOSH EDELSON / AFP)        (Photo credit should read JOSH EDELSON/AFP/Getty Images)
A dog named Tostito, who has no teeth or lower jaw, is seen during the World's Ugliest Dog Competition in Petaluma, California on June 21, 2019. (AFP)
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)
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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Tostito was third runner up for World's Ugliest Dog.

Wild Thang took second place in this year's competition. She is a three-year-old Pekingese from Los Angeles who suffers from distemper which impacts the movement of her jaw and tongue.

Third place runner up Tostito is a rescue who had a rough start in life and as a result is missing his teeth and lower jaw.

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