Dogs and pigs run for office, too

Our kids aren't allowed to use Wikipedia for research papers, but that didn't stop us, during this political convention season, from typing in the phrase "non human candidates" and "Wikipedia" into an Internet search engine.... There's quite a history, which L.A. Unleashed feels obliged to share with its readers. Here's a partial list from Wikipedia:

Molly the Dog, a dachshund from Oklahoma, named as a candidate in the 2008 U.S. presidential election.

Pigasus the Immortal, a boar hog that the Yippies nominated as a candidate in the 1968 U.S. presidential  election.

Cacareco, a rhinoceros at the Sao Paulo zoo, was a candidate for the 1958 city council elections with the intention of protesting against political corruption. Electoral officials, of course, did not accept Cacareco's candidacy, but he eventually won 100,000 votes, more than any other party in that same election (which was also marked by rampant absenteeism). Today, the term "Voto Cacareco" (Cacareco vote) is commonly used to describe protest votes in Brazil.

Alas, Little Lou, the Chihuahua pictured above, is not a candidate for political office, but he certainly could play one on TV. Lou was photographed in Ventura's Pushem-Pullem Parade, in which ordinary people -- and pets -- proceed down Main Street.

--Alice Short

Photo: Stephen Osman / Los Angeles Times