If you were watching news coverage of the election in the U.K., you would be forgiven for thinking canines were going to polls. In fact, they were.
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Joey, the Shih Tzu, waits outside the polling station as their owner votes in the general election at St James’ Church, Goldenacre, in Edinburgh, Scotland, Thursday July 4, 2024. (Jane Barlow/PA via AP)
A dog waits for its owner outside the polling station at Coulsdon Memorial Park, Croydon, England, during voting in the 2024 General Election, Thursday July 4, 2024. (James Weech/PA via AP)
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A voter waits with his dog after casting his vote at the Cherry Tree public house which is being used a polling station in Urpeth, County Durham, northern England, Thursday, July 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)
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A voter leaves a polling station after casting his vote with his dog in Kingston, London, Thursday, July 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
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A dog sits outside a polling station in Southfields in London, Thursday, July 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
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Joey, the Shih Tzu, waits outside the polling station as their owner votes in the general election at St James’ Church, Goldenacre, in Edinburgh, Scotland, Thursday July 4, 2024. (Jane Barlow/PA via AP)
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Joey, the Shih Tzu, waits outside the polling station as their owner votes in the general election at St James’ Church, Goldenacre, in Edinburgh, Scotland, Thursday July 4, 2024. (Jane Barlow/PA via AP)
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A dog waits for its owner outside the polling station at Coulsdon Memorial Park, Croydon, England, during voting in the 2024 General Election, Thursday July 4, 2024. (James Weech/PA via AP)
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A dog waits for its owner outside the polling station at Coulsdon Memorial Park, Croydon, England, during voting in the 2024 General Election, Thursday July 4, 2024. (James Weech/PA via AP)
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A voter waits with his dog after casting his vote at the Cherry Tree public house which is being used a polling station in Urpeth, County Durham, northern England, Thursday, July 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)
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A voter waits with his dog after casting his vote at the Cherry Tree public house which is being used a polling station in Urpeth, County Durham, northern England, Thursday, July 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)
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A voter leaves a polling station after casting his vote with his dog in Kingston, London, Thursday, July 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
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A voter leaves a polling station after casting his vote with his dog in Kingston, London, Thursday, July 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
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A dog sits outside a polling station in Southfields in London, Thursday, July 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
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A dog sits outside a polling station in Southfields in London, Thursday, July 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Seemingly every news site had a gallery of dogs outside polling stations. Good dogs, patiently waiting for their owners to do their civic duty while the news business fulfilled an obligation of its own to protect the sanctity of elections.
The U.K. has restrictions on what can be reported on election days before the polls close to avoid influencing voters. Unlike the U.S., where there is wall-to-wall coverage and analysis, there is no such reporting in Britain.
They simply report that people are going to the polls, along with photos and footage of the lead candidates entering polling stations. But there is no discussion of their campaign platforms.
Thus, the puppy love.
There was Alfie, a blonde shaggy dog in Chiswick, Arnie a cockapoo wearing a rainbow color bowtie in Liverpool and Tobie the ottherhound in Norfolk. Those hounds were on Sky News.
On the BBC, there was Lucien, a Bernese mountain dog, lying outside Antrobus Village Hall in Cheshire, Pippin, a fox red Labrador, in the Edgware part of London, and Maui, an Old English sheepdog in Wokingham.
Journalists went the extra mile to show that it wasn’t just pooches at polls. They found at least two horses, a cat, a chicken and a giant snake named Neptune.
