Politics, is the word that so often gives humans a bad name.
We have all heard of the political gimmicks from buying the god a gift to coming full circle on the Jallikattu ban. So dire are the political times today that it only makes sense for our furry friends to replace politicians.
Over the course of history, there actually have been animals that have “run” for various political offices (and sometimes even won).
Pets in politics – Cutest Animal Politicians
1. Duke, the dog – three-time mayor!
Duke, the nine-year-old dog was re-elected for a historic third term as mayor of Cormorant, a tiny Minnesota town!
Well, unlike the bitter war for the US presidency, no one ran against this dog in the township of 1,000!
Duke perhaps would be the world’s most popular politician given his landslide victories!
2. Stubbs, the cat – Mayor of an Alaskan village!
Stubbs, a 17-year old cat has been the Honorary Mayor of Talkeetna, a tiny Alaskan village for the past 15 years!
Since 1997, Stubbs has been the top cat, proving to be the town’s most attractive tourist interest. Visitors can see Stubbs every day at the local general store, which doubles as his mayoral office.
But that’s not all, the ambitious cat also made an unsuccessful run for the senate.
3. Bosco, the dog was elected honorary mayor of Sunol, California and served for 13 years! Bosco defeated two humans to win the honorary mayoral election in 1981 and served until his death in 1994.
4. Hank, the Cat began a highly popular Senate campaign in 2012 but ended up on the losing side.
Hank’s owners Matthew O’Leary and Anthony Roberts wanted to raise awareness and money for animal groups around the country, several of which donated to Hank’s cause.
By the end of the election — in which Hank came third (7,300 + votes), he had raised over $60,000 to help animals in need!
5. Pigasus, the pig was nominated by Youth International Party (Yippies) to protest the Vietnam War during the 1968 presidential elections.
6. Giggles, the pig also had political ambitions as he ran for the mayor of Flint, Michigan. Unfortunately, he too didn’t make it to the public office.
7. Tuxedo Stan, the cat leader of Canada’s Tuxedo Party
Stan was adopted by a cat-loving writer who formed a political outfit for the welfare of homeless cats in the area.
He ran for mayor of Halifax in 2012, when he was three years old but unfortunately lost the polls.
Stan might not have won but he is still a local hero!
8. Earl Grey, the cat who contested for Canada’s Prime Minister!
She was backed by Stan, the cat but unfortunately, she couldn’t win the elections. But as they say, cats have nine lives… nine electoral chances, may be?
9. Pa Kettle, the cute doggy mayor of Colorado town Divide.
The people of Divide have elected a dog to be their new mayor. But here’s where it gets really interesting – the runner up, who will serve as Vice Mayor, is a wolf named Kenyi and a cat named Buster will serve as the viceroy!
10. Mayor Max, the cute furry Mayor of Idyllwild, California.
11. Saucisse, the French dachshund who ran for the Mayor of Marseille (France)
For a dog who started his life as a garbage-dwelling stray, Saucisse’s life turned upside down after being rescued by a French writer named Serge Scotto.
Scotto brought Saucisse as a character in his novels. This brought the dog a fair amount of fame— leading him to finish finished 6th (with 4.5 per cent of votes) when he “ran” for mayor of Marseille in 2001.
In 2009 he appeared in Secret Story, the French version of Big Brother.
12. Cacareco, the rhinoceros who became a member of Sao Paulo’s civil society by beating 500+ candidates with over 100,000 votes!
Tired of the corrupt politicians, the people of Sao Paulo fielded an incorruptible candidate in form of Cacareco, the rhinoceros. The five-year-old rhinoceros became a symbol of residents’ protest against the corruption of the Brazilian government.
13. Tião, the chimpanzee who ran for mayor!
Thirty years after Cacareco, the rhino, Brazilians had a chimpanzee as their mayoral candidate for Rio de Janeiro. Tião‘s election slogan was “Vote monkey – get monkey”. (Unlike the two-faced human politicians)
As per unofficial sources, Tião came in third with over 400,000 votes, all of which were annulled.
14. Catmando, the cat served as joint leader of Britain’s Official Monster Raving Loony Party (along with his human Mr Hope) from 1999 to his untimely demise in a traffic accident in 2002.
15. Billy, the goat and Tai, the dog – The World’s Best Presidents!
The little township of Whangamomona, New Zealand prides itself in calling itself a republic. They’ve perhaps the most interesting array of Presidents – from Billy Gumboot, the goat who ate all his opposition’s votes to win the 1999 election to Tai, a poodle.
Also read: French President adopts a dog. Irish president and his adorable dogs.
Over to you…
Do you think animals would make for better politicians than humans?
This dog, like George Orwell, believes so: “Four legs good, two legs bad.”
I love you..