A Town Run by Dogs

There's a little town in Kentucky called Rabbit Hash that has been run by dogs for over 25 years, and it works really well for them! The rules to run for mayor are simple. If you are a human, you have to be able to walk to the town center from your home in under an hour. But if you're an animal, you need to be able to chase a rabbit there in under an hour. Ducks and geese can't run, and humans don't even try because the animals always win.

How the Mayor is Elected

Every four years, Rabbit Hash holds an election for mayor. What's cool is that the election is also a fundraiser for the Rabbit Hash Historical Society. Each vote costs $1 and all the money helps take care of the historic town. The tradition began in 1998 as a fun way to raise money for building restoration.

Past Dog Mayors

The town's first mayor was a dog named Goofy. After Goofy, there was Junior the Black Lab. Next came Lucy Lou, who served two terms! During her second term, she helped gather funds to rebuild the town's General Store after a fire. Following Lucy Lou was Brynneth Paltrow, and now the current mayor is Wilbur. Wilbur won the election in 2020, beating several dogs, a cat, a donkey, and even a rooster!

Who's Next?

The election is happening again this year, and a dog named Pablo is currently in the lead. But things can change since the candidates will have events around the town to get more votes. The final votes will be counted on November 5th, and the new mayor will be inaugurated shortly after.