World's ugliest dog dies after battle with cancer

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Gus, a pedigree Chinese Crested from St. Petersburg, Fla, competes in the 2008 World’s Ugliest Dog Contest held at the Sonoma-Marin Fair in Petaluma, Calif. Gus won top pedigree and beat out the past “Ring of Champions” to take home the grand prize. (Crista Jeremiason / Associated Press)

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Animal activist, model and TV host Beth Ostrosky, right, kisses Gus, a pedigree Chinese Crested from St. Petersburg, Fla., winner of the 2008 World’s Ugliest Dog Contest held at the Sonoma-Marin Fair in Petaluma, Calif. Gus’s owner, Jeanenne Teed, center, and her daughter Janey, left, have been helping Gus fight his battle with cancer. (Crista Jeremiason / Associated Press)

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Gus, a pedigree Chinese Crested from St. Petersburg, Fla, competes in the 2008 World’s Ugliest Dog Contest. (Crista Jeremiason / Associated Press)

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Jeanenne Teed of St. Petersburg, Florida celebrates with her one-eyed, three legged Chinese Crested named Gus after Gus was named the winner of the 20th Annual World’s Ugliest Dog Competition. (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images)

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Dane Andrew, left, and Heather Peoples hold up their dogs Rascal and Archie during the 20th Annual World’s Ugliest Dog Competition. (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images)

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Contest judges Sonoma-Marin Fair President Brian Sobel, left, and Santa Rosa Press Democrat reporter Rayne Wolfe inspect Gus, a one-eyed, three legged Chinese Crested dog that was named the winner of the 20th Annual World’s Ugliest Dog Competition at the Sonoma-Marin Fair. (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images)

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Jeanenne Teed, left, of St. Petersburg, Florida celebrates with her one-eyed, three legged Chinese Crested dog named Gus and Dane Andrew after Gus was named the winner of the 20th Annual World’s Ugliest Dog Competition. (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images)

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Gus, a one-eyed, three legged Chinese Crested dog walks around the stage after he was named the winner of the 20th Annual World’s Ugliest Dog Competition. (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images)

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Jeanenne Teed of St. Petersburg, Florida holds her one-eyed, three legged Chinese Crested dog named Gus before the start of the 20th Annual Ugliest Dog Competition at the Sonoma-Marin Fair. (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images)

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Archie, a Chinese Crested dog, sits with his tongue out before the start of the 20th Annual Ugliest Dog Competition at the Sonoma-Marin Fair. (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images)

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A young boy looks at a three-legged, one-eyed Chinese Crested dog named Gus before the start of the 20th Annual Ugliest Dog Competition at the Sonoma-Marin Fair. (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images)

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Left to right: Dane Andrew, Heather Peoples and Karen Quigley hold their dogs Rascal, Archie and Elwood before the start of the 20th Annual Ugliest Dog Competition. (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images)

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Heather Peoples of Phoenix, Arizona holds her Chinese Crested dog named Archie before the start of the 20th Annual Ugliest Dog Competition. (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images)

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Heather Peoples of Phoenix, Arizona holds her Chinese Crested dog named Archie before the start of the 20th Annual Ugliest Dog Competition. (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images)

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Robert Rond of Fairfield, California holds his Chinese Crested dog named Princess Chelsea before the start of the 20th Annual Ugliest Dog Competition. (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images)

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Three dogs mingle before the start of the 20th Annual Ugliest Dog Competition at the Sonoma-Marin Fair. (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images)

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A dog makes his way down the red carpet before the start of the 20th Annual Ugliest Dog Competition at the Sonoma-Marin Fair June 20, 2008 in Petaluma, California. Owners of ugly dogs travel to Petaluma from all over the country to participate in the annual contest. (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images)

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A Chihuahua named Elwood sits with his tongue out before the start of the 20th Annual Ugliest Dog Competition at the Sonoma-Marin Fair June 20, 2008 in Petaluma, California. Owners of ugly dogs travel to Petaluma from all over the country to participate in the annual contest. (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images)

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Archie, a Chinese Crested dog, sits with his tongue out before the start of the 20th Annual Ugliest Dog Competition. (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images)

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Heather Peoples of Phoenix, Arizona holds her Chinese Crested dog named Archie before the start of the 20th Annual Ugliest Dog Competition. (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images)

By From the Associated Press

Nov. 10, 2008 1:50 PM PT

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GULFPORT, Fla. — A one-eyed, three-legged dog that won the title of world’s ugliest pooch this summer has died. The St. Petersburg Times in Florida reports that Gus, a Chinese crested dog, had cancer. He was 9. Gus was rescued from a bad home and went on to win the annual World’s Ugliest Dog contest at the Sonoma-Marin Fair in northern California.

Gus came from humble origins. According to the fair, his adopted family in Gulfport, Fla., rescued him after learning he was being kept in a crate inside someone’s garage.

He had one leg amputated because of a skin tumor and lost an eye in a cat fight.

Gus’ owner had said the prize money from the contest would be put toward the dog’s radiation treatment.