When I was considering a move to Austin, I came to visit first, to make sure I could see myself living here. A cousin was showing me around, and we were on the Pfluger Bridge, totally surrounded by dogs and their people. That was the first time I learned about Austin's obsession with our canine family members. My cousin explained to me that everybody here loves rescue dogs, and fur parents often don't know exactly what kind of dog they have, because so many rescues are mixes. "So we just call them Austin Brown Dogs," she said. The phrase—and the dogs who inspired it—have stuck in my heart ever since.

I’ve loved my time in Austin, and a large part of that is because of the fantastic people I’ve gotten to know—and the fantastic dogs they’ve rescued. Every Austin Brown Dog—regardless of breed or size or age—is as unique and special as the people who love them. Just like our music, our rescue dogs are an integral part of Austin, and without them, our city wouldn’t be the same.