World's ugliest dog: Quasi Modo the Pit bull-Dutch Shepherd cross take top prize at contest

The dog, which suffers from a spinal defect, took top prize at the annual championships in California on Friday

Quasi Modo, the world's ugliest dog, proudly wears her rosette at the competition in California on Friday (Josh Edelson / AFP)

A dog affectionately named “Quasi Modo” has been crowned the world’s ugliest dog at the annual contest in California.

The 10 year old pit bull-Dutch shepherd cross, who was born with a spinal condition that makes her hunchback, triumphed over her competition at the 27th annual World’s Ugliest Dog contest in Petaluma, California on Friday.

It is a sweet victory for Quasi Modo whose early life was beset by struggle after she was abandoned to an animal shelter.

1st runner up was Sweepee Rambo at the annual World's Ugliest Dog competition

There she was adopted by her current owner, a veterinarian from Florida, who won the $1,500 prize.

In her biography on the contest’s website she describes grown men “jumping on top of their cars” to get away from her: “My appearance can be a little unsettling to some (I have had grown men jump on top of their cars to get away from me because they thought I was a hyena or Tasmanian devil) but once they get to know me I win them over with my bubbly personality.”

One entrant, Rascal, poses for a picture at the show (Josh Edelson / AFP)

Coming in second and third place respectively were two Chinese crested and Chihuahua mixes, named Sweepee Rambo and Frodo.

An 8-year-old Chihuahua named Precious received the “spirit award”, an honour for a dog which has overcome obstacles or provides a service to the community. Despite being blind in one eye, she has been trained to monitor smells related to low blood sugar and alert her owner, a disabled veteran.

Pork, a 13-year-old Chihuahua got fresh blue nails for the occasion (Josh Edelson / AFP)

The dogs are scored by a three-judge panel in several categories, including special or unusual attributes, personality and natural ugliness.

Addtional reporting by AP