AP Photo/Beth Schlanker, The Press Democrat

The votes have been counted and a winner has been declared one of the highly anticipated elections of 2012. That's right, the World's Ugliest Dog of 2012 has finally been crowned.

Mugly, an 8-year-old Chinese Crested pooch, won the crown, beating out a tough field that included past winners such as 2002 champion Rascal and Princess Abby, a 4-year-old Japanese chin mix that won in 2010 - not to mention perennial contenders such as Icky, who has competed in three past competitions.

According to the contest's website, Mugly is a rescue dog from the United Kingdom and was "viciously attacked in a park by a group of thugs."

Mugly is now a "therapy dog working with children," according to the website.

"I couldn't speak when they announced Mugly's name. I didn't know which way to look. I was shaking as much as the dog," Mugly's owner Bev Nicholson said in a news release.

In addition to bragging rights, a trophy and a $1,000 prize was awarded.

Mugly also received 1,236 of more than 3,400 online votes, although the votes do not count towards the winner, which was decided by a panel of judges. The World's Ugliest Dog Contest is held annually at the Sonoma-Marin Fair in Petaluma, Calif.

To see pictures of Mugly and past winners check our slideshow.