Lolling tongues and resting snarl face: The World's Ugliest Dog contest in pictures

Lolling tongues, gnarly overbites and haywire hair — the contestants of the annual World's Ugliest Dog contest have all been dealt a ruff hand in the genetics department.

This year's event took place on the 14th August at the Sonoma County Fair in California, United States, and saw a six-year old pug named Jinny Lu take the top trophy. Her owner, Michelle Grady, won $5,000 (€4,312) along with a trip to New York, where they both will appear on NBC's Today Show.

In second place was Pinky, an albino pomeranian-chihuahua cross with a glassy stare, while Otto, a chihuahua mix with a double cleft lip, came third.

Founded in 1976, the goal of the contest is not to mock animals, but to promote adoption of all dogs — no matter their imperfections.

As the saying goes: Beauty is in the eye of the pug holder.

Here are some pictures from the event: