South Austin Beagle Wants to Become Austin's First Dog Mayor

Sid the Beagle is looking to make history as Austin’s first dog mayor.

He may never win that election, not being human and all, but the blonde basset-beagle-corgi mix is is already a winner on social media — he has more than 60,000 Instagram followers — which he’s using to raise awareness about rescue animal adoption and no-kill shelters.

“Austin’s one of the most dog-friendly cities in the nation,” Sid’s owner, Alex Hopes, told Patch. “It could definitely use some representation from the dogs that live here.

Sid kicked his campaign off on his Instagram. As the city’s first dog mayor, his platform includes promises to remind dog owners to pick up after their pets, encourage dog-friendly businesses and push for more water bowls on sidewalks. As if all that weren’t ambitious enough, Sid is hoping to lead a community dog walk for his fellow four-legged companions.

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Sid’s owner hadn’t seen politics in the dog’s future when he bought the dog for $50 on a whim in 2010. Hopes never had a dog before, and he was immediately charmed by his new best friend’s droopy face.

After waiting tables at Bess Bistro for eight months, Hopes quit his job and bought a camera he couldn’t afford. He picked up photography skills quickly and entered the workforce of social media and marketing. After six months of freelancing and doing odd jobs, he had nine clients.

All that time, Hopes had an obsession: photographing Sid.

The pup made an un-doglike model. So Hopes photographed Sid in un-doglike scenes: Sid wearing sunglasses, Sid wearing a crown of grapes on his head, Sid atop a mailbox.

Hopes created the @MyRegalBeagle Instagram and never looked back.

“It’s been pretty powerful to see the way that my dog has empowered and influenced lives,” said Hopes. “I get emails all of the time from social media followers about how Sid lifted their spirits or made them laugh during a tough time in life.”

Since Sid’s social media career has taken off, he and Hopes have travelled across the United States. The two recently returned from an eight-month road trip of hiking and swimming. The duo explored West Texas, White Sands, Big Sur, Tahoe, San Francisco, Yosemite, Red Woods, Crater Lake, Portland, Vancouver, Seattle, and Banff.

The beloved beagle has 46,000 followers on Vine and 50,000 followers on Facebook. He frequently visits Zilker Park, and even has a cameo on a nationally televised commercial for Domino’s Pizza.

“He’s a well-traveled animal, that’s for sure,” said Hopes.

Sid’s next mayoral campaign event will be at the Sustainable Food Center’s Doggone it to Summer event on Oct. 31.

He’ll help judge the costume contest.