Meet the Mayor: About our 2026 Pet Mayor!
In collaboration with the City of Tacoma, the Humane Society for Tacoma & Pierce County ran our second Pet Mayor Contest in early June.
You submitted photos, you voted and donated, and now we get to announce our 2026 Pet Mayor: Sambuca!
Sambuca, or “Buca” for short, is Tacoma’s newly elected Pet Mayor; a spirited two-year-old Italian Greyhound with a big heart and an even bigger desire to lead the City Of Destiny with style, speed, and deep-seated empathy. Known for his boundless energy and signature sleek style, Buca can often be found proudly parading around his backyard with his favorite Santa toy in tow—his prized possession and constant companion while playing fetch with his humans. At home, Buca serves as both playful ringleader and devoted guardian to his three Italian Greyhound sisters, BeBe, JuJu, and DeeDee. While Buca himself did not come from a rescue background, his sisters did, and they have shaped his outlook in a meaningful way. Watching them thrive has inspired Buca to become a passionate advocate for shelter and rescue animals across Tacoma and beyond. Buca’s family has been passionately and actively involved with the Pacific Northwest Italian Greyhound Rescue organization for over 20 years.
Buca is deeply honored to have been selected as a representative of the Tacoma-Pierce County Humane Society. He embraces this role with pride and purpose, using his platform to help educate the community about the importance of proper care for shelter and rescue animals. He believes every pet deserves a safe home, consistent attention, regular exercise, and, above all, unconditional love. Whether he’s sprinting through the yard, keeping a watchful eye on his sisters, or greeting constituents with his trademark enthusiasm, Mayor Buca leads with compassion and purpose. With a wagging tail and a clear mission, he is dedicated to making Tacoma a more pet-friendly city—one paw at a time.
But Sambuca won’t be alone! This year, because you raised nearly $12,000, we’ve decided to award the second-place winner the title of Deputy Mayor. Please say hello to Kai, the Akita!
Sambuca and Kai will be sworn into office on Tuesday, June 30th. We thank them for their service, and to you for raising nearly $12,000 to ensure spay and neuter services are available to our community’s pets.
