STARKVILLE — While every dog may have its day, only one pup will come out on top Tuesday in Starkville’s second Pet Mayor election.

Paige Watson, director for Main Street for the Greater Starkville Development Partnership, said votes were piling in this week, as Starkville residents picked their favorite dog to represent them. The election also acts as a fundraiser for the Starkville Main Street Association, which donates some of the proceeds to the Oktibbeha County Humane Society.

“It’s kind of cutthroat,” Watson said. “But the purpose of this is just to see how far people will go to support their pets. And of course, everybody that loves dogs knows that they’re all deserving, but there can only be one Pet Mayor.”

The election raises money through sponsorships, nomination fees and donations throughout the cycle, including a $5 fee per vote cast. Voting has been open since Sept. 4 and is available online until 7 p.m. Monday, Watson said.

The winning pet will be collared as the new Pet Mayor at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Hub Plaza, Watson said, with the runners-up named as the Chief of Pawlice and Board of Pawldermen.

Once elected, the new Pet Mayor will make an appearance in the Christmas Parade, along with receiving invitations to ribbon cuttings and other Partnership events, Watson said. Starkville elected its first Pet Mayor in 2023, with Buster Camp claiming the collar and serving in the role until he passed away in February.

In its first iteration, the pet elections raised $3,000 in donations for the Oktibbeha County Humane Society. Watson said the Main Street Association would “love” to raise similar funds for the society again this year.

“We are excited and grateful to be one of the beneficiaries of the Starkville Pet Mayor Election,” OCHS Executive Director Michele Anderson told The Dispatch in a text message. “What a creative and generous way to celebrate our community’s pets!”

Watson said the election also helps to build camaraderie and build community spirit.

“It’s definitely all in good fun,” Watson said.

Candidates

Five dogs have thrown their hats into the ring to become Pet Mayor, including a sitting pawldermen and four newcomers to pet politics.

Sitting Pawldermen Itty Bitty Dacus is a seven-year-old five-pound Chihuahua mix. Her owner JT Dacus said Itty Bitty is jumping back into the political ring to represent Starkville and the humane society she was rescued from in a new capacity.

“She really wants to represent Starkville as the Pet Mayor and get to work to make Starkville even more pet friendly and donate back to her alma mater, which is OCHS,” JT said.

JT called Itty Bitty “extremely friendly,” with a “flexible” personality that allows her to snuggle in your hand or run with other dogs. Itty Bitty hopes to make Starkville more pet friendly, similar to cities like Greenville, South Carolina, by encouraging every downtown shop to have a water bowl for pups, in conjunction with the city’s ongoing Main Street redesign, her owner said.

“I just think that she would make a great representative for Starkville,” JT said.

Five-month-old rescue puppy Roscoe Garner is the youngest candidate in the race. His owner, Alicia Garner, said the pup is a combination of American foxhound, Beagle and German shorthair pointer. Alicia said her family adopted him from OCHS this summer after having him over for a “slumber party” while he recovered from an illness enough to go to a northern shelter.

“Roscoe is a shelter dog, and so, that was really why we nominated him for Pet Mayor,” Alicia said. “It’s just to bring awareness to the Oktibbeha County Humane Society. … They do … amazing things, and he’s proof that you can have an amazing pet from the shelter.”

Alicia said she was excited to nominate Roscoe for the position this year due to his “sweet spirit.” Roscoe loves attention and enjoys exploring new places like Tractor Supply and Dorman Lake, Alicia said.

John Clark Packer, owner of almost one-year-old Golden Retriever Natty Waylon Packer, said he got his pup from a breeder in Meridian in February. While she started out “wild” as a puppy, John Clark said she went through service dog training this summer, and he believes she would be right for the job and more.

“I want to get her to where she can go into nursing homes and hospitals and stuff like that and be that calm,” John Clark said. “… And that’s what we’re shooting toward and she’s already on her way.”

Natty is running with the slogan “Don’t be bratty, vote for Natty,” John Clark said, with a platform of more treats and walks for all dogs and finding good homes for all strays. While Natty was not a rescue, John Clark said the pair supports the humane society and attended its annual Dog Paddle last week.

Bonnie Coblentz, owner of six-year-old Beagle Elvis Coblentz, said her pup entered the ring because her family thinks “he’s the sweetest and the greatest” and wanted to support the humane society. While Elvis did not come from OCHS, he was a rescue, Bonnie said, as she originally found Elvis near her family’s cabin in rural Choctaw County.

“I don’t want to say he’s ‘repaid’ us with all the love in the world, but he is the most loving, sweet dog that you’ve ever met,” Bonnie said.

The Coblentz family owns Dolce, a coffee and gelato shop. With Elvis’s love for his people only matched by his love for food, it “seemed obvious” that his platform would be “pup cups for all,” Bonnie said. As mayor, Bonnie said, she believes Elvis would be talkative.

“He’s a little vocal dog,” Bonnie said. “When he gets excited, he likes to bay, because he is a beagle. So I imagine there would be a lot of talking involved in his mayoral (address).”

Natalie Coats, owner of nine-year-old Dachshund Krieger Coats, said her pup has run in the Dachshund Derby for the past three years, taking home first place in the senior division this year. Now, Krieger is ready for a different kind of race.

“He has got a little, big heart,” Natalie said. “He loves to run, and if you meet him, he’s just got the biggest personality. He’s also lived a lavish life. He has traveled with me and lived overseas with me, so he’s also lived in Austria and Germany with me. So he has a wide cultural experience.”

Natalie said Krieger’s platform focuses on connecting businesses to make the city more pet friendly. She gave examples like Charleston and Savannah, where businesses have dog bowls and treats, but she also mentioned other ways businesses could adapt for their furry clientele.

“Starkville is limited on pet dining locations,” Natalie said. “… I remember going after the Dachshund Derby, you couldn’t even find a place to eat with your dog because the few places that allowed outside dining or dining with dogs in general were just packed. So … that’s been one of our big platforms, making a few more accessible options for pets in general.”

Voting is available at starkville.org/the-partnership/programs-events/pet-mayor/.