This is a little off-topic for this blog, but since I’m headed to Iowa tomorrow, why not? Reports the Sioux City Journal:

SIOUX CITY — Jake the missing Labrador retreiver barked the loudest and grabbed 62 write-in votes for City Council in Tuesday’s election, while “Jake’s kidnapper” got 1 vote.

Woodbury County Election Commissioner Pat Gill said Wednesday people either penned “Jake,” “Jake the dog” or “Jake Rochester” in the write-in category.

Jake was Councilman Aaron Rochester’s pet who bit a neighbor June 27 and was declared vicious. After two hearings upheld that declaration, Jake was supposed to be euthanzied, according to a revised city vicious dog law that received unanimous council approval last year.

While on death row in a pen at Sioux City Animal Control, someone kidnapped him on Aug. 2. Jake drew a lot of attention from entrepreneurs who sold T-shirts, while the Weekender magazine started a “Vote Jake” campaign complete with campaign mugs, buttons, bumper stickers and T-shirts.

Get the full story (and a pic of the furry candidate) here.