Vice Presidential candidate Tim Walz is a fan of dog-mocracy.
At least, that’s what he made clear in a 17-minute long interview with Matt Nelson of the popular social media account WeRateDogs.
Nelson and Walz were joined by scene-stealer Scout, Walz’s rescue dog hailing from Minnesota shelter Midwest Animal Rescue & Services.
Among many heartwarming anecdotes, including the story of Scout’s adoption (heavily influenced by Walz’s son, Gus), as well as the joy of visiting Minnesota’s dog parks, the governor shared how dogs indeed have an influence on politics.
“Do you think having Scout has made you a better leader, in some ways?” Nelson posed to the former football coach on their walk.
“Well, I think having a dog or pets makes you a better human,” Walz started in his response.
He then began to list out the traits of a good leader that are often naturally brought out in dog owners.
“He counts on me,” Walz said of Scout. “He’s loyal, he gives unconditional love. I think because of that sense of empathy you’d like to see in all leaders, you hope you have it already, but it certainly gets magnified [when you have a dog].”
Scout is a former shelter dog, whom Walz calls a “lab mix,” as the dog is a cross between a Labrador Retriever, Boxer, and Chow-Chow. WeRateDogs fundraises with its merchandise sales to cover the costs of medical care for rescues — a cause highlighted during the video.
Continuing on their walk, Walz also shook hands with a number of other dog park visitors, telling Nelson he might be biased as the state’s governor, but that Minnesota has “great dog parks.”
“It’s Disney World for dogs!” Walz exclaimed at one point. “Just look at ‘em.”
One of the other reasons he loves these canine companions?
“I do think they bring out the best in us,” Walz said. “I think our politics can sometimes bring out the worst. I see it at a dog park, that rarely will people talk politics; they talk dogs, and they talk about the weather. They talk about how lucky we are to be here, and I think that’s their great gift that they [give] to us.”
That said, Scout has been used to peddle a bit of a political agenda — but one that nearly everyone can agree on.
“I’d make the plug: Get yourself a dog if you don’t already have one,” Walz said. “And get out there and vote this fall. Make your voice heard and be part of the system.”
Header image courtesy of WeRateDogs
