The Callaway County Humane Society is on the hunt for a new top dog.
Starting Thursday, area dog owners can nominate their favorite four-legged companions as a candidate for Fulton canine mayor.
Fulton has been without a furry leader since previous Canine Mayor Chevy died in January.
Humane Society president Sandy Corbet said pet owners will have the month of August to apply to participate in the fundraiser - there is a $10 fee per dog to run for election. They then will have the month of September to run their personal campaigns, gathering votes in the form of monetary donations.
"We'll meet at the end of September and do a pizza party and collect the money," Corbet said. "The top ten (fundraisers) will move on."
Corbet said those 10 dog owners and their pets can continue to campaign throughout October, during which time the Humane Society also will be promoting the election and taking a voting station around to area stores and events.
"At the end of October, the one that raised the most money will be our new canine mayor," she said, noting the announcement will take place on Nov. 5 - election day.
The newly-elected canine mayor will attend a Fulton City Council meeting to be sworn in by Mayor LeRoy Benton and will make appearances at parades and other Humane Society events over the next two years. The owner also will receive a portrait of their pet.
Corbet said she would encourage area dog lovers to nominate their pet and get involved with what she described as one of the organization's biggest fundraisers. Proceeds of the fundraiser go directly to the Humane Society - primarily designated for the organization's spay and neuter program.
"Anybody can run," she said. "In the past couple elections it was held
exclusively to businesses (which would each nominate a canine candidate). Now it's just open to anybody in the county.
"The whole things is for fun, and you're helping our spay and neuter program."
Applications are available at the Callaway Humane Society website, www.callawayhumane.org, or applicants can e-mail Corbet at [email protected]