Every week, we'll be featuring a guest post from the travel writers behind Worth the Drive, a blog featuring nearby getaways, festivals, and sweet travel deals on NBC Bay Area.

When most people watch a major competitive dog show, their reactions run the gamut. They might call certain breeds or competitors "noble" or "gorgeous" or "striking," but, truly, the opinions of onlookers tend to be quite varied. This is not so with the annual World's Ugliest Dog competition at the Sonoma-Marin Fair in Petaluma. Why do we say that? For one reason: Observers very typically have one initial reaction: "awww, poor thing." Which amuses -- or is it bemuses? -- us; after all, dogs don't own mirrors as far as we know, and the stories behind the pups who regularly compete reveal they belong to loving homes and doting humans. So, in short? Maybe the "awww, poor thing" bit is a bit unfounded. Maybe they are, indeed, the World's Most Wonderful Dogs, and certainly some of the luckiest, to receive such fawning and attention. This year's contest is set to bark on Friday, June 22.

Click here for more essential details on the World's Ugliest Dog Contest!