Save the South Congress Food Trailers!

Lately, I've been getting very planning-oriented on this blog, but being that I am an Austin Dog Mom, it is relevant that I speak out on issues pertaining to our great city.

Everyone is familiar with the slogan, "Keep Austin Weird," actually coined in the late 1990's by a caller on a local KOOP radio station and spoken in response to the changes (gentrification) that were taking place in the city.

Austin's weirdness is directly related to its dog culture; public spaces such as local dives and food trailers welcome dogs and humans alike, and the laid-back atmosphere allows people to enjoy their dog's company in public more often than in other cities.

However, our growth as a metropolitan area has also led to the creation of more parks and fancy businesses directly serving dogs, so it is difficult to say whether or not change is more positive or negative for the future generations of fur children.

Currently, the South Congress food trailers are under siege. This popular destination for both tourists and locals is about to be cleared out for a new hotel, and many in Austin are not only angry, but skeptical as to how this will really benefit the tourist scene, as many visitors to Austin make it a point to visit the famed food park. 

Currently, there is a petition circulating on Change.org to save the food trailer park, and it currently needs 1,940 more signatures.

I would greatly appreciate your signature on this petition, as food trailers are not only a part of our culture, but also help foster the dog-friendly dining environment that we all know and love.

Click here to sign: SOCO ATX Development: Preserve Austin's Food Trailers on S. Congress!

Save our Food Trailers!

Dog-ography in "Welcome to Dogtown, aka Austin, Texas"

A Facebook friend just posted the most amazing article on my wall, entitled "Welcome to Dogtown, aka Austin, Texas." It is literally one of the greatest articles for me to read, considering my love of dogs AND demography, the combination of which I just referred to as "dog-ography."

I have subtly hinted at my interest in urban and community issues including gentrification, and my personal interest in Austin's dog culture has fueled a professional curiosity as to how Austin's changes as a city are connected to it's relationship with Man's/Woman's Best Friend. Or child, as the article notes....because after all, I am a Dog Mom.

According to this article, the American Veterinary Medical Association reports that only one-third of all dog owners view their dogs as pets. According to this study (unfortunately the year was not reported) the vast majority of people have a Dog Mom/Dad relationship to their dogs, which I think is very cool.

The article cites so many amazing statistics, it is difficult to know where to begin. For starters, Texas actually boasts the highest population of dogs out of any state--about 7.2 million. There is no accurate statistic for the number of dogs in Austin, but when it comes to dog services, we dominate even national rankings. We have 12 off-leash parks (more than any Texas city, and I STILL don't think its enough,) 40 doggy day cares, and roughly 200 dog-friendly restaurants!!! (I better get to eating!) Other unique services, such as dog bakeries and birthday party venues are mentioned. Zoom Room Austin is one location that I know offers birthday parties. While it may seem extravagant to have a full-blown party for a dog...you know I'd do it if I had the money.

And there it is! The kicker: Money. If there's one thing I've noticed about the majority of Dog Moms, it's that they are richer than me. The article cites that dog ownership is linked to higher income. One controversy that I've been meaning to address on this blog is cheap vs. expensive dog food, but I haven't gotten brave enough because I'm embarrassed to talk about it. It's one of those things that can make you feel very guilty if you aren't providing your dog with the best, most expensive food. But that's a post for another time.

I could go on and on about this article, but you should probably just go read it for yourself. One thing I found interesting is that most Dog Moms actually are single women, and that ownership dogs by single women has increased by 25% since 2006. 

This last quote I found to be particularly interesting about the Dog Mom effect:

"Studies have shown that a dog’s gaze stimulates the release of oxytocin in humans, the calming hormone that promotes bonding. It would stand to reason that if women are starting families later, they may feel the need to have that nurturing relationship,”

Ta-da! Scientific evidence that we are not "psychologically deranged," as some might believe us to be.

Some cuteness for you from an excellent "Dogtown" event, Dogtoberfest

Apple Goes Out to Eat!

In honor of Apple's graduation and his upcoming birthday (Jan. 29) we took him on his very first trip to a dog-friendly restaurant. The particular restaurant we chose was Lucy's Retired Surfer Bar & Restaurant, because in addition to allowing dogs on their patio, they also have a dog menu that you can order from. 

Steven and I have been planning this event for a long time. We decided we wanted to take him out to eat for graduation when he first started the class in October. Even though his graduation was delayed, it worked out pretty well to go in January because we could combine the celebration to include his birthday as well.

We let him wear his birthday bandana a little early!

Apple's first restaurant experience went very well. For most of the evening, we were the only ones out on the patio, so there were no other dogs to distract him. He was very good about having to be tethered for a while, and I brought plenty of things in my Dog Mom Apron to distract him when he had to wait. 

Ready to eat!

I had a black bean and cheese quesadilla, Steven ate a hamburger, and Apple had the Canine Kahuna, a grilled chicken breast cut up into chunks with a dog bowl of ice on the side. The whole meal, including chips and salsa, was only $18.84, which is a completely amazing price for two people and a dog, especially downtown. The dog meals are really cheap--the Canine Kahuna was $2, and the dog dish of ice was free, so there is definitely no cost deterrent to bringing your dog out to Lucy's for a fun night out on the town.

Apple enjoying his "Chilly Pup," a dish of ice

Our first dog-friendly restaurant experience was definitely a good one. It is really exciting to go somewhere that actually provides food for dogs, as most dog-friendly eateries just allow them on the patio to sit and wait while the humans dine. Apple is probably not ready to go to a super-crowded human-food-only restaurant like the super-popular Freddie's, but I'm sure we will be making our way back to Lucy's in the future to work up to more challenging restaurant situations.

If you have a dog (or even if you don't), you should definitely check out Lucy's Retired Surfer Bar & Restaurant at 506 West Avenue in Downtown Austin. The food is great, the price is incredible, and your dog can eat out in style.