The concept of pets running for public office normally appears in political satire, protest, and sometimes as a form of entertainment.
But what happens when the conversation moves from the realm of entertainment or political protest to a more serious concept? If you give your pet a legal name and identification, can it legally run for public office?
This question is gaining more traction on social media; this article will answer all the questions on whether a pet with a legal name and identification can run for public office.
The legal status of pets
Most jurisdictions around the world legally recognized animals or pets as property. According to the American Bar Association (ABA), the law recognizes animals as “living property,” which means they may be afforded protections against abuse or neglect but do not have rights equal to those of human beings.
The US legal system recognizes animals as property meaning they can be bought, sold, and owned. This means based on the law animals lack legal personhood to engage in civic activities like voting and contesting for public office.
Supposedly, if you manage to get your pet a legal name and identification, it will not change its status under the law. An ID and legal name will not make the pet a citizen or grant it legal personhood.
Can you get your Pet an ID?
While you cannot get your pet a government or official ID, you can get them a form of identification. This type of identification includes a collar tag, a microchip, and even registering them with local authorities. The purpose of this form of identification is to establish ownership and ensure that they can be identified when lost.
There are institutions that give pets licenses and passports. These are all for identification but do not confer legal personhood on the pet.
Global legal perspective criteria for running for public office
Before one can run for a public office, there are legal requirements that a person must fulfill. Here are some countries and their requirements for running for public office.
United States
President: You must be
- At least 35 years old,
- A natural-born US citizen,
- A resident of the United States for 14 years.
Senator: You must be
- At least 30 years old,
- A U.S. citizen for at least 9 years,
- A resident of the state represented.
The House of Representatives: You must be
- At least 30 years old,
- A U.S. citizen for at least 9 years,
- A resident of the state represented.
State and Local Offices: Every state has laws governing running for elections. You must be of legal age and a of U.S citizen.
United Kingdom
Member of Parliament: You must be
- At least 18 years old,
- A British citizen,
- A citizen of the Republic of Ireland,
- An eligible Commonwealth citizen with a definite leave to stay in the UK.
Local Government Councilor: You must be
- At least 18 years old,
- A British citizen,
- An Irish citizen,
- A citizen of the Commonwealth.
India
President: You must be
- At least 35 years old,
- A citizen of India and qualified to be elected as a member of the lower House of the parliament (Lok Sabha).
Member of Parliament: You must be
- A citizen of India,
- At least 25 years old for the lower House of the parliament (Lok Sabha),
- At least 30 years old for the upper house of the Parliament (Rajya Sabha).
Member of the Legislative Assembly: You must be
- A citizen of India,
- At least 25 years old.
Canada: You must be
- At least 18 years old on election day,
- A citizen of Canada.
Other countries: You must be
- Of legal age,
- A citizen of the country.
Cases of animals running for office
Animals cannot legally run for public office. But there are cases where animals have been ‘elected’ for public office as a form of political satire or protest:
Stubbs the Cat: Stubbs served from 1997 to 2017 as the mayor of Talkeetna, Alaska. Stubbs was ceremonial and a tourism strategy rather than a legal authority.
Duke the Dog: Duke was elected the mayor of Cormorant, Minnesota, for three consecutive times from 2014 before retiring in 2018. His mayoral position was ceremonial with no legal standing and was a means of raising funds. Each vote casts a $1 donation to raise funds for the annual festival.
Clay Henry the goat: Clay Henry was elected the mayor in Lajitas, Texas, as a symbol of humor, resilience, and town pride. His mayoralty was without legal standing and authority. It was ceremonial and symbolic.
Could the law be changed in the future for animals to run for office?
Changing the law to allow animals to run for public office in the future is both practically and theoretically unlikely. The concept of eligibility to run for office under the law is based on human accountability and rights.
Amending the law to allow non-humans to run for office will require a complete shift in the law and cultural norms.
However, there has been progress in New Zealand and India; rivers and ecosystems have been granted legal personhood for environmental protection purposes.
An appeals court in Argentina ruled that an orangutan is a ‘non-human’ person with the right to freedom from arbitrary detention.
The Government of India in 2013 placed a ban on the establishment of dolphinariums and the keeping of captive dolphins for public entertainment.
The Nonhuman Rights Project in the U.S has called for legal personhood for elephants and chimpanzees because of their cognitive abilities.
Conclusion Can my pet run for public office if I give it a legal name and ID?
Giving your pet a legal name and ID may qualify them to run for symbolic positions as in the case of Duke the Dog, Stubbs the Cat, and Clay Henry the Goat. But it will not qualify them to legally run for public office under any jurisdiction in the world.
The law sees animals as property and protects them from harm and inhumane treatment. Running for public office requires a living person who meets specific age and citizenship requirements.
FAQs
-Can my pet run for public office?
No, a pet cannot legally run for public office.
-How does the law recognize animals?
An animal is considered property in the law.
-Can you get your pet a government ID?
No, you cannot get your pet a government ID.
-Can you give your pet a human name?
Yes, you can give your pet a human as a form of identification but it does not change its status under the law.
