In Boone County, Kentucky is a little place known as Rabbit Hash, so named for its historic culinary use of rabbits (particularly for its rabbit hash during the early 19th century). The town of 315 (2010 census) is known for a string of canine mayors that began when human, Goofy Borneman-Calhoun, died in office in 2001 at the age of 16. The office stayed vacant until the next election in 2004 when a black Labrador Retriever named “Junior Cochran” assumed the role (would we make this stuff up?)

Junior died in office in 2008, and a special election to fill the vacancy was won by “Lucy Lou,” a Border Collie (who also became the town’s first female mayor). As of September 7, 2015, “Lucy Lou” became the only mayor not to die in office. Alas, she did not win the 2016 election. “Brynneth Pawltro,” a bullie breed, took that honor by beating out, “Bourbon” an Australian Shepherd (do you see a purebred dog trend here?). As far as we know, “Bourbon” is still mayor (and still alive!) but the Border Collie who came in third place in that election, “Lady Stone,” is the official ambassador of Rabbit Hash. The nine year old Border Collie, who works with local non profits to raise money for dog related charities and promotes tourism, has her own Facebook page. 

You can follow the goings on at Rabbit Hash here.

Thanks to Rob Stone for sharing this picture of Lady Stone and inspiring this post.