Mayor Cat Survives Assassination Attempt: Dog Attack Leaves Honorary Head of Alaskan Town in Critical Condition

Stubbs the cat, the mayor of the small Alaskan town of Talkeetna, survived an assassination attempt by a local stray dog and is in critical condition at a veterinarian's office in nearby Wasilla, according to the Alaska Dispatch.

While Mayor Stubbs may not have any real political power, the town of 900 is governed by a community council, the 16-year-old feline is beloved as the face of the eccentric little town. Stubbs was only a few doors away from the general store run by his owner, Laurie Stec, when he was attacked, according to the Alaska Dispatch.

Stubbs suffered a punctured lung, fractured sternum and a very deep cut on his side in the attack. After getting away from the vicious dog Stubbs went into hiding, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "People were looking around with headlights and flashlights; everybody was pretty upset," Stec said. "All I could think was 'I can't let him die out here in the rain.'" When the mayor was located a local vet wasn't able to do much for him other than to wrap him up to stop the bleeding. Stubbs had to be taken to a mayor 70 miles away in Wasilla where he is still residing in critical condition, according to the Alaska Dispatch.

While the mayor may have celebrity status in the small town, Stubbs enjoys sipping water spiked with catnip out of a wine glass, to Stec he is simply her beloved pet.

"He was famous years ago, and once the TV story was done on him it just catapulted all over the world," Stec said. "I don't know....he's just a really cool cat."

Stubbs' veterinarian bills have already exceeded $2,000 and a fund has been set up to help Stec pay for the mayor's wellbeing. Donations can be sent to P.O. Box 906, Talkeetna, AK 99676. Any donations exceeding the cost of Stubbs' care will be donated to the Mat-Su Animal Care Facility, according to the Alaska Dispatch.