From Mainstreet Apopka
The Apopka community has elected its 2025 Apopka Dog Mayor!
This year marks the second Apopka Dog Mayor election. The inaugural election in 2023 raised more than $19,800 in $1 donation votes for five animal rescues throughout Central Florida. This year's election raised $22,832 for four animal rescues, and the incumbent candidate, Asher, rose victorious for his second term with the most votes, tallying $9,945 that went to Heartland Haven Foundation, which Asher represented this year.
Asher, an 11-year-old Border Collie, currently works as a Cadaver Search & Rescue dog for the Apopka Police Department. He would describe his political values as libertarian, always advocating and supporting minimal government interventions in the private lives of dogs and pets. Believing in the promotion of adoption programs and lowering the cost of spay/neuter services, Asher understands the importance of the health and safety of all pets.
Throughout their six-week campaign, each candidate chose and advocated for a local animal rescue, and the proceeds from all votes and sponsorships collected were donated back to each respective charity.
Other non-profits represented in the election were:
Asher will now begin his second term in this honorary title as Dog Mayor to promote the Apopka community, advocate on behalf of all animals who call Apopka home, and support the city of Apopka Commissioners in their projects.
The Apopka Dog Mayor program is a Main Street Apopka program and was established in 2023.
As part of his second term as mayor, Mayor Asher created the "Paw It Forward" Fund with a goal of $5,000, and he will continue raising money for animal rescues.
Donations for the "Paw It Forward" Fund can be made by visiting www.apopkadogmayor.com/"paw-it forward"-fund.
For more information about the Apopka Dog Mayor 2024 program, please visit www.ApopkaDogMayor.com
There are three top issues Asher finds most important -
1. Access to affordable healthcare for dogs and all pets alike.
2. Pets should have inclusivity and access to enjoy open public spaces such as parks, restaurants, and central and downtown areas.
3. And lastly, a lack of advocation for emotional support dogs and other breeds of animals.
As the elected Dog Mayor, Asher will use his advanced training and experience to address these pressing concerns specific to the local Apopka community:
1. Keeping wild places wild by encouraging more involvement from local county shelters to educate humans on how to live in a shared universe with non-domesticated animals
2. Increasing the emotional and physical support of frontline human staff such as firefighters, police officers, and public safety officers.
3. Fighting for lower crime and substance abuse rates.
Asher's intense training and work experience have built his unique worldview, in which helping humans and animals exist together in safety and security is at the top of his priority list.
