Oh, that Ugly Dog!

Pee Wee Martini isn't just ugly, he's downright pitiful looking. And this weekend, that just might be to his advantage.

The veteran contestant of the World's Ugliest Dog Contest in Petaluma is just one of about a dozen tongue-lolling, hairless, bug-eyed canines that, well, make Yoda look like Mr. Universe.

Save your pity, though. This is serious competition held each year at the Sonoma-Marin Fair that gets international media coverage (this year, the Animal Planet TV network has returned) and a heaping helping of whoops and hollers from a local crowd cheering for these perennial underdogs. Instead of humiliation, the owners celebrate the particularities of their pets and lavish on praise for mugs only an mother could love. It doesn't hurt that the winner gets a year's supply of doggie treats, $500 and the coveted title of World's Ugliest Dog -- something past winners have parlayed into appearances on Jay Leno, "Geraldo" and "Inside Edition."

Festivities kick off today with a red carpet dog walk at 4 p.m. Judging begins at 6:30 p.m. Along with Pee Wee, there's Squiggy the hairless crested (a popular ugly dog breed), bald and blind Barracuda, death-breathed Oscar and the cringe-inducing Princess Chelsea.

The event is just part of the Sonoma-Marin Fair that goes on through the weekend in Petaluma. The Ugly Dog competition is included in the price of admission ($14 for adults, $9 for children 4 to 12 and free for children under age 4).

For more details about the contest, as well as casting your vote for the Pee Wee and his pals, go to www.sonoma-marinfair.org/uglydogcontest.shtml