Patrick the Pony was just elected the mayor of a small English town.
Patrick didn’t always have these hefty responsibilities. The pony started his career as a therapy animal. He earned his reputation and his beloved town status through his regular interactions with the villagers, including at a favorite pub of his. He has reportedly helped members of his village with anxiety, raised funds for Ukraine and defibrillators, and regularly attends large town events. Sadly, although the title is real, the position is unofficial – he cannot way in on any policy decisions.
Surprisingly, Patrick is not the only animal to hold a public office. In the United States, it is far from uncommon to see an animal as mayor. The people of Talkeetna, Alaska elected Stubbs the cat to the position of mayor, and Bosco the dog ruled Sunol, California. Eastsound, Washington elected April the cow as mayor, who retired after one year to pass the title on to a Portuguese water dog.
In 2020, a total of 9 dogs had served as mayor in the United States, most likely with absurdly high approval ratings.
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