This episode is the second installment of Wag The Vote!, our dog-centric, non-partisan, on-going campaign to encourage voter participation. Dogs are the ultimate “good citizens” … and we think they want us humans to be good citizens, too.

In this episode: dog mayors. (Yes, that's a thing.)

Are dogs being elected to public office a sign of democratic collapse? Political hijinks to install a figurehead, a mere puppet for the masters pulling the other end of the leash?

Or are they the natural end result of civically engaged communities?

Today, we talk about the how and the why of successful canine campaigns for mayor.

Unless it’s happened in your town, you might not realize there are quite a few animal mayors, especially in America. From the first mule candidate elected in 1938, to a town that has had animal mayors since 1998, we discuss the good, the bad, and the downright ridiculous.

A very special thanks to the Tacoma Library in Washington state for helping us track down the clippings of Boston Curtis' 1938 election.

Episode Links

Dog Edition Episode #47: Dogs as Healers

Dogs Edition Episode #53 : Dog as Medicine

Rabbit Hash Historical Society

Wilbur the French Bulldog Elected Mayor article by The Washington Post

Why are there so many animal mayors? video by Mic

Bosco, Sunol's Dog Mayor, Lives on in Spirit article by The Mercury News

Mayor Max Mayor of Idyllwild, California

Animal Rescue Friends of Idyllwild

This episode is sponsored in part by EverPup and BarkBox.

About Dog Podcast Network (DPN) 

Check out Dog Podcast Network for other dog-adjacent shows:

The Long Leash where we rescue tasty scraps from the editing room floor in an unscripted interview show

Dog Cancer Answers which offers vetted advice from real veterinarians who answer your questions about dog cancer

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