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By Tom McArthur & Lucy Clarke-Billings, BBC News
Election 2024: Pooches at polling stations across the UK
It's become an expected feature of every election - as people make the way to polling stations, so do their dogs (and other animals).
For some, the trip to exercise their right to vote doubles up as an opportunity for their pets to stretch their legs.
The hashtag #dogsatpollingstations on X and Instagram is a highlight of election days for animal lovers on social media – and it’s one of the few things we are able to report on whilst polls are open.
Our reporting on polling day is restricted to uncontroversial factual accounts, which is why you're seeing a lot of pets today.
Animals, apart from assistance dogs, are not usually allowed inside polling stations, but they can be permitted at the discretion of the local authority.
Dogs are not the only voting companions to show up at the polling stations today.
So far, the BBC has seen one snake, a tortoise, horses, and what a colleague called "a ridiculous" number of dogs join their humans at polling stations.
Here’s a gallery of the best pups, good boys, girls, and other creatures from across the UK:
Scott Cohen
Maui the old English sheepdog knows how to pose outside a polling station in Wokingham, Berkshire.
Tegan Alexander-Prewett
Ernest surveys the scene outside the polling station in Milton, Portsmouth.
Aakash Dega
Wilma poses on a tree stump outside a polling station in Finsbury Park, London.
PA
Joey the shih tzu casts an eye over voters at St James' Church in Edinburgh.
Joe Berry
Neptune the snake was sssssspotted outside a polling station in Dorset.
Hannah Monaghan
High-fives for all who voted from Mavis in Greater Manchester.
Pam McCaig
While Isla the whippet appeared in full bloom at one of Sunderland's polling stations early on Thursday.
Amy, Macclesfield
In the interest of dogs/cats balance, here is 11-year-old Gustav Robert the First.
Alex Murry
Can Fausto sniff out a winner already?
Abbi Willetts
Time for another dog? Neigh thanks, says Ace as he waits for his owner outside Sandbach rugby club in Cheshire.
Catherine Holton
Luna looks to be hoping for a treat after waiting for her owner to vote in London.
Amy Delicata
Brothers Ned (left) and Bruno (right) seem happy to be at Gidea Park Primary School polling station.
Graeme MacGregor
No, it's not another horse: This big boy is Benny the great dane from Nairn.
Stan Jackson
Percy dressed in his polling day best this morning in Norfolk.
Sarah Pearce
Sunny the parrot has pecked his way into the polling station spotlight.
Damian Walton
While Rex the tortoise, at Baswich (Stafford) polling station, reportedly set off at 04:00 BST to make sure he could vote today.
Additional reporting by Bernadette McCague, Ben Morris, and Mary Litchfield.
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