Since 1998
Six mayors. All dogs. Zero scandals. Rabbit Hash has been doing democracy right for over 25 years.
It started as a fundraiser and became a legend. In 1998, the residents of Rabbit Hash decided that if any town was going to elect a dog as mayor, it might as well be theirs. Votes cost one dollar each — anyone, anywhere can buy as many as they want — and the proceeds go to the Rabbit Hash Historical Society.
What began as a charming local quirk attracted national press, documentary filmmakers, and eventually international attention. The mayors have appeared on CBS Sunday Morning, Reader's Digest, and made enough noise that one of them briefly considered a presidential run.
These are their stories.
Mixed breed · "Dog of unknown parentage" · First Canine Mayor in American History
The original. Goofy won the first-ever Rabbit Hash mayoral election in 1998 and was inaugurated to great local fanfare. His unlikely rise to power was chronicled in the documentary Rabbit Hash: The Heart of the Universe. Goofy served faithfully until his death in July 2001 at the age of 16 — still in office, tail wagging to the end.
By all accounts, Goofy was exactly the kind of mayor you'd want — endlessly friendly, interested in everyone who walked through the General Store door, and completely indifferent to partisan politics. His platform, if he had one, was simply to be present. He set a standard for dignified, scandal-free governance that every successor has tried to uphold.
Black Labrador Retriever · The People's Champion
Junior won the 2004 election after the mayoralty sat vacant for several years. His tenure was not without controversy: the Northern Kentucky Health Department banned him from entering the General Store after a visitor complained about animals inside — a ruling that enraged his loyal constituents. A petition was filed on his behalf. Junior died in office in May 2008, age 15, unbowed.
The health department incident became something of a cause célèbre — locals argued that a town where the mayor was a dog should, logically, also be a town where dogs were welcome in the General Store. The logic was airtight. Junior may have lost that particular battle, but he won the longer war: his legacy cemented the idea that Rabbit Hash was a place that took its dogs seriously, no matter what the bureaucrats said.
Border Collie · First female mayor · National celebrity
Lucy Lou was elected in a special August 2008 election to fill the vacancy left by Junior's passing, becoming Rabbit Hash's first female mayor. She was the town's most celebrated mayor — walking with CBS Sunday Morning's Bill Geist, accepting a $1,000 stimulus check from Reader's Digest, serving as Grand Marshall of Covington's Paw-Rade, and winning Best Elected Official in Cincinnati CityBeat three years running.
In 2015 she briefly announced a U.S. presidential exploratory campaign — a move that generated more press coverage than most actual exploratory campaigns. Border Collies are famously intelligent and driven; Rabbit Hash voters clearly knew what they were doing when they elected one. Lucy Lou had that rare quality in a public official: she actually listened.
Lucy Lou was also the first Rabbit Hash mayor not to die in office; she retired with her dignity intact. She passed away on September 10, 2018, at age 12, beloved by the whole country. Her eight-year run remains the longest tenure in Rabbit Hash history.
Pit Bull · Most votes in Rabbit Hash history (at the time) · International goodwill ambassador
Brynn stormed the 2016 election, pulling massive vote totals and becoming an international sensation. Her election was covered by outlets across the globe — a pit bull winning an election in the same week as a deeply divisive national election felt like exactly the kind of wholesome news everyone needed. She served a full term with characteristic good humor and zero scandals.
Brynn's election carried a particular kind of symbolism. Pit bulls are among the most unfairly maligned breeds in America — the subject of breed-specific legislation, fear-based stereotyping, and endless bad press. That Rabbit Hash elected one as mayor felt, to many, like a corrective. Whatever else was happening in the world in November 2016, one small Kentucky town was saying: this is a good dog, and we trust her with the job.
French Bulldog · Current Mayor · Record-setting vote-getter
Wilbur Beast, a French Bulldog, won the 2020 election with a staggering 13,143 votes — at the time, the most votes ever cast in a Rabbit Hash mayoral race — raising over $13,000 for the Rabbit Hash Historical Society in a single election. He currently serves as mayor and is, by all accounts, doing an excellent job.
The 2020 Rabbit Hash election drew unprecedented national attention — partly because it coincided with one of the most anxious election cycles in American memory, and partly because Wilbur is simply hard to resist. His approval rating among constituents who can reach treats from the counter hovers near 100%. French Bulldogs are known for their stubbornness and enormous personalities; Wilbur brings both to the role.
Rabbit Hash has a permanent population of roughly five people. It has one historic general store, a small church, a few antique shops, and a view of the Ohio River that hasn't changed much in 200 years. By any measure, it's a blip on the map of Northern Kentucky.
And yet it's internationally famous.
The reason, of course, is the dogs. But dig a little deeper and you'll find that the dog mayor tradition embodies something people genuinely hunger for: the idea that politics can be joyful, that leadership can be unpretentious, that the person (or dog) in charge doesn't have to make you anxious. Every four years, Rabbit Hash stages a mock election that raises real money for historic preservation — and in doing so, gently suggests that maybe we take the rest of this a little too seriously.
There's a philosophy embedded in the whole thing. Rabbit Hash has always been a place that does things its own way. Founded in the early 1800s, it survived floods, fires, and the general indignity of being a tiny Kentucky river town in an era when tiny Kentucky river towns were disappearing. The community rallied around the General Store — a National Historic Place — and found a way to keep it going that was smart, funny, and deeply human. The dog mayors are part of that same spirit.
Rabbit Hash: The Heart of the Universe (2004) follows the town through the early years of dog mayoral politics, centering on Mayor Goofy and the community around the General Store. Directed by Norbert Sander, it captures the particular magic of a place that has decided, collectively, to be exactly what it wants to be — no more, no less.
The film has screened at festivals across the country and remains the definitive document of what makes Rabbit Hash tick. Watch it before your visit and you'll arrive with a much richer understanding of what you're walking into.
This is, arguably, the most dog-friendly town in Kentucky. Your dog will feel at home immediately. Here's what to know.
The General Store and outdoor areas are famously welcoming to dogs. Bring your pup — they're joining a long tradition of canine visitors paying respects to the sitting mayor.
The river is right there. Water-loving dogs will be thrilled. If your dog swims, bring a life jacket — the Ohio has current. Keep an eye on conditions before letting them in.
Parking is informal and limited — arrive early on busy weekends. Bring water for your dog (the Ohio River water isn't for drinking). Keep your pup leashed near the road, which is more active than it looks.
Rabbit Hash mayoral elections happen every four years, roughly aligned with the national calendar (though Rabbit Hash's election process is considerably more enjoyable). Election Day in Rabbit Hash is a genuine community event — the town hosts festivities, there's activity around the General Store all day, and the atmosphere is festively absurd in the best way.
The election itself runs for a period of weeks rather than a single day — votes are purchased online through the Rabbit Hash Historical Society website, so the "day" is more of a season. But the closing day and the vote count announcement draw visitors from across the Tri-State area. If you can time a visit around the election, do it.
Elections are typically announced by the Historical Society — follow them on social media or check their website to stay current on the next one.
Elections happen every four years. Votes cost $1 each — there's no limit on how many you can buy — and every dollar goes directly to the Rabbit Hash Historical Society to fund preservation of this National Historic Place.
Visit the Rabbit Hash Historical Society website during election season. Buy as many $1 votes as you like for your chosen candidate. Candidates are dogs put forward by their owners — any dog with a willing owner can run.
The General Store is a National Historic Place. It costs real money to maintain and insure a 200-year-old building on the Ohio River. Every vote directly funds that preservation work — which is why the elections matter beyond the joke.
You don't have to be a resident of Rabbit Hash — there are only about five of those anyway. Voters have come from across the country and around the world. In 2020, more than 13,000 votes were cast in a single election.
The next election date will be announced by the Historical Society. Until then, Mayor Wilbur Beast serves with distinction.
Visit the Rabbit Hash Historical Society →Dog-mayor trip choices
Build around the dog mayor story when the group loves oddball roadside America and wants the photo, laugh, and general-store stop.
Slow down for the preservation story if the old river town matters more than the novelty headline.
Fold Rabbit Hash into a scenic Northern Kentucky drive when the stop is best as a charming bend in the road, not the whole day.
A practical dog-road-trip kit covers safer car restraint, water stops, cleanup, and the weather changes that come with an Ohio River day.
Second Star gear guide
Dog-Friendly Road Trip
Dog-road-trip packing list
Car restraint, seat protection, water, cleanup supplies, visibility pieces, and weather backup for trips with a dog.
Dog Car Safety Harnesses
$18.99
Dog Back Seat Covers
$109.99
Car Phone Mounts
$25.6
The odd, charming questions almost everyone asks before visiting Rabbit Hash.
Yes, in Rabbit Hash’s proudly quirky small-town way. The elections are ceremonial and community-driven, but they are absolutely part of what put the town on the map.
A couple of relaxed hours is enough for many visitors, especially if you want to browse the general store, take photos by the river, and enjoy the atmosphere without rushing through it.
Yes. It works especially well as a scenic side trip alongside river drives, bourbon-country detours, or a slower small-town northern Kentucky day.
Not reliably. Treat the mayor as part of the town story, not a scheduled attraction. The better plan is the General Store, porch, river view, and dog-mayor history, with any canine encounter as a bonus.
Yes, if your dog handles crowds, motorcycles, river edges, and other dogs calmly. Bring water, a leash, and a plan to keep them safe near the Ohio River current and busy weekend traffic.
Usually no. It is strongest as a memorable slow stop: General Store, photos, river air, maybe music or a festival, then dinner or lodging in Burlington, Florence, Newport, or Covington.
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