US: Colorado town elects dog as mayor

A bloodhound has been elected as the mayor of a small US town after the dog beat off competition from six other canines, a donkey, a cat and even a hedgehog to win the unofficial title.

Pa Kettle, a search and rescue dog, picked up 2,387 votes - 55 more than Keyni, a wolf, who will be deputy mayor in the town of Divide, Colorado. Buster the cat, who placed third with 1,790 votes, is the viceroy, 'The Gazette' reported.

Divide does not have a human civic leader, so Teller County Regional Animal Shelter holds an unofficial online mayoral race to raise funds. According to 'The Mirror', a total of 12,091 votes were cast, with each raising a dollar for the charity.

Pa will replace Walter the three-legged cat, who will retire. The mayoral inauguration is to take place later this week.