Copyright 2012 Dented Lens Photography

Will there come a day when we must bow down before our furry four-legged overlords? In these contentious times, a new documentary short suggests an alternative to government by the people and for the people.

Wild About Hank follows the unlikely political career of Hank, the Fairfax County native who launched a campaign for Senate in 2012 against George Allen, Jr and now-vice presidential candidate Tim Kaine. The charismatic feline, then nine years old, mobilized a loyal base and at one point in the campaign season had more likes on Facebook than Kaine.

The hirsute candidate was never presented as a cinematic talking cat. He communicated through a website, Twitter account and Facebook page run by his owner, Matthew O’Leary.

With a fetching bow tie that suggests a bewhiskered Paul Simon, the Maine Coon cat offered familiar political promises, as in a 2012 campaign video that lamented the politics as usual of “vile and petty attack ads.” Hank promised “a refreshing voice of change [who] offers real solutions to our problems.”

Through his two-legged amanuensis, Hank really did offer solutions. Although the saga of the cat that ran for Senate began as satire, Wild About Hank director Emma Kouguell says that, “it became more than just this cute cat running,” As hard as it can be to imagine in the current political climate, the lighthearted campaign addressed real issues and fostered civil discussion.

“Hank’s primary platform was jobs, animal rescue and spay and neuter programs,” Kouguell explains, and he lobbied for no-kill animal shelters.

His positions were not all so self-serving. Hank believed in job creation through research and construction of new infrastructure. An idealist, he suggested that politicians take the money they’d spend on attack ads and donate it to local causes they supported. Kouguell explained that “politicians would be fixing the problems as they run for office, instead of waiting until actually elected.”

The cat put his money where his meow was. Through merchandise and campaign events, Hank’s campaign raised over $16,000, all of which was donated to animal rescue and spay and neuter programs.

Copyright 2012 Dented Lens Photography

Hank supported campaign reform, calling for the elimination of SuperPACs and the electoral college. He refused to get dirty, but despite running a positive campaign, he inspired a vicious attack ad lobbed by the rabid opposition: a dog.

Although signatures were collected to get him on the ballot, Hank fell well short of the 10,000 signatures required. But as a write-in Independent candidate, he received over 7,000 votes.

In light of a presidential campaign that has left the nation more divided than ever, cat lovers and fatigued pundits alike may share Kouguell’s sentiment that “Right now, Hank is really needed. He was able to actually unite people from different political backgrounds. We probably aren’t going to see that in this election.”

Unfortunately, Hank passed away in 2014 and was unavailable for an interview.

Wild About Hank has its Virginia premiere on Sunday, August 14 at 6:45 p.m. at the Cinema Arts Theatre. The screening will be followed by Q&A with the director and cast of the film. The event is free with a suggested donation of one can of cat or dog food for the Humane Society of Fairfax County’s pet pantry.

Watch the trailer: