- Elwood was a Chinese Crested and Chihuahua mix from southern New Jersey
- He won the World's Ugliest Dog Contest in 2007, became a celebrity of sorts
- Elwood dies in his owner's arms; "he was a big part of my life," she says
(CNN) -- It's a fact: Elwood was ugly. And he was loved.
Now, he's gone.
Karen Quigley told CNN on Saturday that Elwood, her Chinese Crested and Chihuahua mix that shot to national prominence after winning the World's Ugliest Dog Contest in 2007, had died.
"The best part was he did not suffer, he was in my arms and with me," Quigley said from her home in Sewell, New Jersey, 15 miles east of Philadelphia.
Walle, a Beagle-Bassett, was crowned the World's Ugliest Dog in 2013. Winners receive a cash prize and trophy at the annual event held at the Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds in Petaluma, California. Click through to see past winners. 
Mugly, a Chinese crested dog from the United Kingdom, won the World's Ugliest Dog Contest in 2012. 
Yoda took the prize as the World's Ugliest Dog in 2011. 
The 2010 winner, a Chihuahua named Princess Abby, wanders around the staging area after the 23rd annual World's Ugliest Dog Contest. 
The 2009 winner, Pabst, a boxer mix, shows off his underbite. 
Gus, a one-eyed, three-legged Chinese crested, took the win in 2008. 
A Chihuahua named Elwood won in 2007. 
A Chinese crested named Archie was champion of the 2006 competition. 
Sam was the winner for 2003, 2004 and 2005. 
Dane Andrew and his dog Rascal, the 2002 winner. 
Nana was the 2000 and 2001 winner. Photos: The world's ugliest dogs 
Josie, a 3-year-old Chinese crested, takes part in the 24th annual World's Ugliest Dog Contest at the Sonoma-Marin Fair in Petaluma, California, on Friday, June 22, 2012 
Mugly, a Chinese crested from Peterborough, Britain, got all dressed up. 
Handsome Hector was another well-dressed Chinese crested at the competition. 
Mouse, a 6-year-old Chihuahua, shows off. 
Mugly struts down the red carpet. 
Annie Ragsdale of Lodi, California, carries Rue, a 2-year-old Chinese crested. 
Creature, a Mexican hairless dog, displays his teeth. 
Daisy, a 9-year-old pug, lets it all hang out. 
Dane Andrew of Sunnyvale, California, holds Rascal, a 14-year-old Chinese crested. 
Bev Nicholson, right, of Peterborough, England, reacts after Mugly, her 8-year-old Chinese crested, won the World's Ugliest Dog title. 
Bev Nicholson puts a ribbon on Mugly, who won $1,000 in prize money. Photos: World's Ugliest Dog Contest "I couldn't be more proud that people who haven't met him loved him ... I couldn't be more proud."
Elwood was a mere 2-years-old -- barely a teenager in dog years -- when people outside southern Jersey first saw his distinctive mug. As Quigley explained in 2007, "He just doesn't have any teeth on the left side of his mouth, so there's nothing to keep his tongue in there. It never goes in. It's out all the time."
Asked by CNN how people tended to react upon seeing him, his owner said they're typically "stunned ... Sometimes they're not even sure if it's a dog."
Not that Elwood minded.
"He's very confident in his looks," Quigley said. "He thinks he's very handsome."
The judges at the World's Ugliest Dog Contest -- an annual event held at the Sonoma-Marin Fair in Petaluma, California -- apparently did not agree. His looks landed him the title, as well as fans from Brazil to Germany and beyond.
Not that it changed him, with Quigley saying his life's lesson is that "you don't have to be perfect to be special."
"For a little dog he touched a lot of lives in his short time," she said Saturday. "He did a lot of things."
On Thanksgiving morning, after 8 years "filled with love and devotion," Elwood died. Quigley said she didn't know his cause of death, only that he had recently fallen ill.
She added, "He was a big part of my life, and my heart."
