I fell in love with senior dogs when my now-husband, Matt, and I went to Austin Animal Center on New Year’s Eve 2015 to adopt our first dog together. We wandered the kennels for a long time, meeting several wonderful dogs, but none of them was The One. Then, we passed a kennel that stopped me in my tracks. While most of the dogs were barking and jumping and demanding our attention, this nine-year-old black lab, whose shelter name was Jackson, simply sat patiently, looking up at me as if to say, “Maybe you could be my mom?” When we took him for a walk, I was done.
We adopted Jackson that day and renamed him Hank, inspired by our mutual love for Hank the Cowdog. Our time with Hank was too brief—he lived with us for just two years before he passed away—but he made a permanent pawprint on my heart. I knew I wanted to continue giving seniors like Hank, who are often passed over in the shelters, the chance to live out their golden years in the way they deserve: spoiled rotten and loved unconditionally.
Fast forward to December of 2018. Matt and I were engaged then and madly in love with a beautiful lab puppy we’d been gifted after Hank’s death, but I was still burning to support other senior dogs. We decided to foster, and we brought Bo into our home. But, four months later, distraught at the idea of sending him away, I made him an official member of our family.
Clearly, fostering was not the way I was going to broaden my impact.
But what if I could marry my passion—book development—with my purpose—supporting senior dogs? Fostering may not have been my skill set, but storytelling is, and I’m so fortunate to live in one of the most dog-crazy cities in the country. Why not leverage those two things to create a beautiful book that celebrates Austin’s love for rescue dogs and raises awareness and funds for the pups who need our help the most?
I have been absolutely blown away by the enthusiasm fellow dog lovers—in Austin and beyond—have shown for this book. The stories you’ve written and the photos you’ve shared have melted my heart over and over again. If you’re a pet parent, I hope these stories will make you laugh, make you think, and inspire you to give your fur babies a few extra head scratches tonight. If you don’t have pets in your home—if you’re on the fence or you’re not sure it’s the right time, or if you’re still healing from the loss of a beloved pet—I hope this book will give you a little nudge to get in touch with one of the many nearby rescue organizations. I’d be willing to bet there’s a doggo out there who’d like to take you home.