AUSTIN WOMAN MAGAZINE | OCTOBER 2019
“You can always tell about somebody by the way they put their hands on an animal.” –Betty White
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BENEFITS OF SKIN HYDRATION BY DR. ROBERT HARLA
I
t’s important to think about total body hydration, of which skin hydration is a large component. A lot of the time, we take our skin for granted and only care for it when something happens, like cuts, infections, color changes, wrinkles and more. The skin is the largest organ in the body and it is our “spacesuit” that protects us from the outside world. It helps give us shape, regulates temperature and protects us from damaging radiation. Water makes up about 60 percent of our body weight, according to the Mayo Clinic. Some tissues, like the brain, are 95 percent water. We have sensible water loss (urine) and insensible water loss, which is harder to document. It is made up of water vapor from the respiratory tract, the skin (sweat and evaporation) and the digestive tract. Other factors include medications, diet, exercise, stress and environmental temperature. How much water is enough? For years, we have heard we need eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day. Most people don’t even get that much. More recent calculations based on body and other factors specify significantly more. The Mayo Clinic recommends 11 and a half glasses of water daily for women and 15 and a half for men. An easy calculation: Weight divided by 2 is the number of ounces needed per day. We can also contribute by eating water-rich foods in our diets. There are numerous water-drinking apps available for your smartphone. In order to hydrate our skin, we need to hydrate our bodies. When we are under stress from any cause, our bodies conserve resources to heart, lungs, brain and digestive system, and send fewer resources to the skin, hair and nails. How do we hydrate the skin? Most importantly, we do so through our water intake. Secondarily, we do so through topical application of products containing hyaluronic acid. This compound utilizes osmosis to “pull” water or vapor into the skin from the environment. The whole body needs to be treated in order for this to make a significant difference in the balance of skin hydration. Skin hydration refers to adding water to the skin, whereas moisturizing refers to adding oil to the skin. It is important to know the difference and know what is in the products you purchase. By far, the most contributing factor to skin hydration is having a positive water balance in the system.
Our skin is constantly being replaced. The cells start off in the basal layer, where they are young and have a normal complement of water. As cells age and migrate up to the surface, they lose water content through nonreplacement and evaporation. As they reach the surface, they are far removed from the blood supply, they die and are dried out. Over time, they are shed as we wash and wear clothes. This process takes four to six weeks. Keeping your skin properly hydrated can: • slow the effects of the aging process. Nothing can change that, proper hydraRespecting thebutnatural tion can help maintain the skin’s elasticity, facial contours keeps and by keeping more water withinothers the cells for a guessing longer periodwhether of time, fineyou’ve lines are less prominent.
had any treatments done.
• improve the color and appearance of the skin, especially in sun-exposed areas. Decreased water contact can lead to dry, flaky skin, which leads to the fine lines becoming more prominent and visible. • help tonal changes by promoting cell turnover without the buildup of dry, older cells. As the skin cells die and lose water content as they migrate up from the basal layer, they can’t rid themselves of the products of metabolism. Then, without adequate hydration, cell turnover is decreased and the toxins can result in irritation and inflammation. When the skin cells become dehydrated, feedback loops signal the oil glands to produce more to help prevent or slow evaporation. Increased oil content leads to the potential for increased acne. The bacteria on the skin use the oil for a food source. A positive water balance helps the entire person and has many beneficial effects for the skin. As we age, our oil glands shrink in size and produce less. They help prevent water loss. Dehydration of the skin leads to a “thinning” of the skin, which can lead to easier skin trauma and bruising.
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Photo by Rudy Arocha.
Nordstrom signature short-sleeve cashmere and linen sweater, $149; Paige Ellison T-shirt, $79, available at Nordstrom, 2901 S. Capital of Texas Hwy., nordstrom.com. Pants and boots, model’s own. Earrings, stylist’s own.
42
48
ON THE COVER
FEATURE
UNLEASHING HOPE
PAWSITIVELY THERAPEUTIC
BY JENNY HOFF
BY BRIANNA CALERI
CONTENTS
Photo courtesy of Jumping Jack Dog Ranch.
OCTOBER
40 SAVVY WOMEN
GOURMET
18 C OUNT US IN
56 R ECIPE REVEAL
20 GIVE BACK
Women in Numbers
Happy Hooves Healing Hearts
22 F ROM THE DESK OF 24 S TART THE CONVO
The Pet Gal The Pit-bull Debate
ATX WOMEN TO WATCH 28 MANDY WHALEY
58 F OOD NEWS
Homemade Dog Treats
Mutts Canine Cantina
WELLNESS 60 W AITING ROOM 62 H ER ROUTINE
Pets and CBD
Ax Thrower Bo Swierc
29 JARIKA MCGEE
POINT OF VIEW
30 NICOLE DEANGELIS
64 O N THE MONEY 66 ASK LUCY
DISCOVER
Fashionable Finery for Pooches
68 I AM AUSTIN WOMAN
33 ADVENTURE GIRL
36 S EE HER WORK
Stephanie Boone
Haunted Magnolia Hotel
ON THE COVER
STYLE + HOME 38 MAKE ROOM
Affording a Pet
Painter Eli Halpin
Pet-proofing Your Home
40 IN THE DOGHOUSE
Jumping Jack Dog Ranch
10 | AUSTIN WOMAN | OCTOBER 2019
Photo by Rudy Arocha rudyarochaphotography.com Hair and makeup by Alicia Beller aliciabellermakeup.com Shot on location at Mueller muelleraustin.com
La Vie Rebecca Taylor Le Faune dot long-sleeve blouse, $195; Good American Good Legs high-waist skinny jeans, $159; Madewell oversized denim jacket, $128, available at Nordstrom, 2901 S. Capital of Texas Hwy., nordstrom.com. Boots and jewelry, model’s own.
A PUBLICATION OF AW MEDIA INC.
VOLUME 18, ISSUE 2
DAWN WESTON
Publisher NIKI JONES
CHANTAL RICE
Creative Director
Managing Editor COURTNEY RUNN
Assistant Editor
SAM PITKIN
Marketing and Events Manager
MONIKA KELLEY CHRISTINA RINKEN-FABIANICH MEGAN WEDDLE
Account Executives
LAUREN FRANK
Sales and Production Coordinator CONTRIBUTORS
Editorial: Harshita Avirneni, Stephanie Boone, Jordan Burnham, Brianna Caleri, Jenny Hoff, Niki Jones, Sabrina LeBoeuf, Lindsey Logan, Hannah J. Phillips, Lucy J. Phillips, Chantal Rice, Phaedra Rogers, Courtney Runn, Gretchen M. Sanders
WANT TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS?
Art: Rudy Arocha, Alicia Beller, Katia Forero, Kara E. Henderson, Niki Jones, Charles McKeever, Sarah Natsumi Moore, Taylor Prinsen, Edward Verosky, Madison Weakley, Jessica Wetterer
AUSTIN
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Publication of Austin Woman would not be possible without the support of our monthly advertisers and sponsors, who believe in the impact we are making in the Austin community. The following businesses have stepped up their support of our efforts beyond traditional advertising and we are proud to recognize them as our partners. The team at Austin Woman is grateful for these businesses that have shown their commitment to the advancement of women in Austin and hopes you, as readers, recognize their efforts and support these businesses and all our regular advertisers.
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am so excited to share with our readers this October pets-themed issue of Austin Woman. As someone who often jokes I get along better with animals than humans, this particular magazine theme is one that’s dear to me and that I have looked forward to all year. And given that Austin is an especially pet-friendly town that’s home to about a gazillion animal friends and their human companions, I’m betting I’m not the only local who is encouraged and captivated by the many pet-focused stories in this issue of AW. Particularly inspiring is the story of our cover woman, Frances Jonon, the tenderhearted and assiduous president and CEO of the Austin Humane Society, who is a lovely model of perseverance, loyalty and the pursuit of proficiency. I have said many times lately that we would be remiss to publish a pets-themed issue without including Jonon, arguably the most important woman in Austin’s animal industry today. While Jonon’s nearly 24 years at AHS and zealous care for Austin’s animal population are definitely inspiring, there are many stories within these pages that are equally enjoyable, enlightening and helpful. Whether you want to learn how to best prepare your home for a new pet (or how best to afford that undertaking); delight in the stories of local animal lovers who are giving back to that furry community; gain some insight about how therapy dogs help their human counterparts; find the best boarding facility, homemade treat recipe, and health and wellness treatments for your pets; or are ready to gain a better understanding of so-called aggressive dog breeds, we’ve got you covered in this issue. We’ve even got a special fashion-focused piece from our resident “pawtributing writer” in the “Ask Lucy” column aimed at helping you turn your pup into a fashionista with the help of some doggone chic local products. Yep, this issue has really gone to the dogs—and cats and horses and pigs and goats and bunnies! I am so grateful to live in a town that finds value in the human relationship with animals and works hard to ensure our local pet population is protected, fostered and cherished. Please consider effecting some “pawsitive” change for Austin animals by contributing your time, financial resources and influence to our local pet-focused businesses and nonprofits so these industries—and Austin pets—can continue to thrive. And give your furry babies a little belly scratch from me.
Cheers!
CHANTAL RICE
BELLA THE DOBERMAN
My life was forever changed and enriched by my time with this sweet, snuggly and clever Doberman pinscher, Bella. Though I lost her tragically after only five years, our time together was incredibly transformative and meaningful for me, and I will always adore her. What better way to celebrate her than with a beautiful memorial tattoo? Love and miss you, Bella boo!
Join the conversation @AustinWoman
12 | AUSTIN WOMAN | OCTOBER 2019
Headshot by Korey Howell. Bella photos courtesy of Chantal Rice.
Managing Editor
CONTRIBUTORS
This month, we asked our contributors: What’s your favorite memory of a pet you’ve had in your life?
Benefiting Hospice Austin
ThursDay, Nov. 14th 9:30 am - 12:00 pm J.W. Marriott
Join us for a morning of brunch and mimosas, shopping with local merchants, and to support a wonderful cause! With Keynote Speaker Kate McDermott, renowned author of Art of the Pie.
Visit
HospiceAustin.org/beautyoflife to purchase your tickets, raffle tickets, or view silent auction items now!
Presented by:
-
BRIANNA CALERI
WRITER, “PAWSITIVELY THERAPEUTIC,” PAGE 48
Brianna Caleri is a music-obsessed freelance writer who is semi-new to Austin and has been excited about it every day for 10 months. An aspiring jill-of-all-writingtrades, Brianna loves profiles, reviews, ghostwriting, building websites and overhyphenating. “Growing up, my dog used to sit on my lap every morning on the kitchen floor before breakfast. A true best friend is the first one to help you procrastinate every day and to remind you to start those days with a little grounding—literally.”
TAYLOR PRINSEN
PHOTOGRAPHER, “PAWSITIVELY THERAPEUTIC,” PAGE 48
Taylor Prinsen is a full-time freelance photographer based in her hometown of Austin. She specializes in shooting lifestyle content for brands and businesses, and is inspired by natural light, unique stories and capturing honest emotions. She loves CrossFit as much as she loves margaritas, is an avid concertgoer, solo traveler and dog mom. “My dog, Phoebe, is a total goofball and always helps me feel loved after a long day of shooting photos. She’s been with me through so much: difficult breakups, growing my business, all the trail runs, moving homes and so much more. Getting into bed and snuggling with her is always a great end to my day!”
PHAEDRA ROGERS
WRITER, “PAWING AND CLAWING THROUGH CBD OVERLOAD,” PAGE 60
Phaedra Rogers is an Austin-based freelance writer who writes for publications, nonprofits and women-owned businesses. When not sitting behind her laptop, you’ll find her in a spin class or trying to keep up with her daughters, husband and three pets. “My favorite pet memory is when our dog, Stella, was returned to us after getting lost in the Wild Basin Preserve. We were devastated and thought she was gone forever. It turns out, she was found by a wealthy man and his three labs and truly living her best life on his property until he found us.”
MADISON WEAKLEY
ILLUSTRATOR, “SUSAN ANDERSON,” PAGE 22
Madison Weakley is a multidisciplinary artist and illustrator based in Dallas. She is a University of Texas graduate and has been creating work since 2014. Her work is inspired by everyday life: the people and things she encounters, along with small details, textures and colors. As an elementary-school art educator, she is inspired and fueled by the natural desire to explore, express and experiment. “I have had two golden retrievers for the past seven years. They are brother and sister, and we have countless memories, but one of our favorite things to do is drive around in our convertible Mini Cooper and blast the Eagles.”
Life without fibroids is just better. Do you miss work, stay home, or feel out of control of your life because of fibroid symptoms? Is the pain, heavy bleeding, bloating, and fear of accidents just too much? It’s time for a change. Uterine fibroid embolization (UFE) is a nonsurgical, outpatient procedure that shrinks fibroids and makes symptoms disappear, so you can enjoy life free of fibroid pain and mess.
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CONNECT WITH US! CAN’T GET ENOUGH OF THIS ISSUE? Check us out at atxwoman.com.
➥ ACL Fest. You’re sweaty, thirsty, tired and totally exhilarated by eight stages
pumping out music from more than 130 bands and solo artists. It must be time for the annual Austin City Limits Music Festival! This year, the two-weekend event will feature a slew of female musicians. We’ve got tons of ACL Fest coverage, including highlights of some of our favorite lyrical ladies, as well as dancing-boots-on-the-ground reporting from Zilker Park during the festival.
➥ Texas Book Festival. Join Austin Woman in our love of literature as we celebrate the 24th year of the Texas Book Festival with an abundance of online coverage, including book reviews from featured authors, in-depth Q&As about the writing process, a behind-the-scenes look at the life of a wordsmith and, of course, our rundown of Austin female authors participating in this weekend-long literary festival.
➥ The 512. There’s always something happening in Austin, and you know we’re
chatting about all the latest news and gossip around town in our office. Every Friday, we’ll share the buzziest things you need to know. Everything from events to the most newsworthy local topics, we’ve got you! From our office to you, it’s The 512.
WIN THIS!
Don’t leave spooky adventures only for the month of October, especially when Austin has a particularly creepy haunted boarding house in its own backyard. Thanks to the proprietors of the historic Haunted Magnolia Hotel in Seguin, Texas, one thrill-seeking Austin Woman reader will win two tickets to the Haunted Magnolia Hotel’s terrifying guided ghost tour (valued at $60). During the 170 years of the hotel’s existence, it has housed many who fell to an untimely or strange death and are known to haunt and remain at the old hotel, including 13 spirits who often make themselves known to visitors on the guided ghost tour. (Check out our firsthand experience in the “Adventure Girl” piece on Page 33.) To enter to win, follow us on Instagram @austinwoman and stay on the lookout for the giveaway announcement. A winner will be chosen by the end of the month.
DON’T MISS PlayBingo Ladies Luncheon Benefiting Center for Child Protection Oct. 5, 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. JW Marriott Austin, 110 E. Second St. centerforchildprotection.org
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Halloween By Design’s Classic Monster Bash Oct. 19, 7 to 10:30 p.m. Star Hill Ranch, 15000 Hamilton Pool Road hbdaustin.com
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Celebration of Life Luncheon Benefiting Seton Breast Care Center and Zeta Tau Alpha Foundation Nov. 15 JW Marriott Austin, 110 E. Second St. austincelebrationoflifeluncheon.com
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Book cover photo courtesy of Chandler Baker. Win This photo by Niki Jones.
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Mental illness has many disguises RECOGNIZING THEM IS THE FIRST STEP. Mental illness is sometimes presented as frightening, unpredictable, or even violent. At other times, it is portrayed as amusing and not serious. Both depictions contribute to stereotypes that prevent people from seeking help when they need it. At Rock Springs, we treat patients with dignity and respect. Call 24/7 to schedule a confidential assessment. ADULT PROGRAMS Rock Springs 700 Southeast Inner Loop Georgetown, TX 78626
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As the pets business continues to flourish, women are proving they’re the cat’s meow and top dogs in the industry. BY HARSHITA AVIRNENI, ILLUSTRATIONS BY JESSICA WETTERER
80 Percent Currently, more than 80 percent of veterinary students in the U.S. are women, according to Veterinarian’s Money Digest, with total enrollment at vet schools expanding exponentially in the past 35 years. While lady veterinarians are caring for our fur babies, pets are also contributing to humans’ health, with studies showing the health benefits of pet parenthood include decreased blood pressure, lowered cholesterol levels, less depression, more opportunities for fitness and increased overall well-being.
22 Years
85 Million According to the American Pet Products Association, pet parenthood has risen 12 percent in the last 30 years, from 56 percent to 68 percent. Currently, nearly 85 million households have a pet, with younger pet lovers (millennials and Generation Z) accounting for 62 percent of pet parents in the U.S.
Known as the event in which the wiener takes all, the Buda Wiener Dog Races in Buda, Texas, celebrated 22 years of wienerdog domination in April. Every spring, wiener-dog supporters from throughout Texas attend the races to cheer on their favorite short-legged pups. We think it’s a doggone excellent way to celebrate one of the canine world’s scrappiest breeds!
No. 4 44 Women Every year, Pet Age names its Women of Influence Awards winners, honoring women who are influential in the pet industry. Among the 44 women honored in 2018 was Austinite Jennifer Gibbs, vice president of sales for pet-food company Nulo, which boasts its products as “nutrition meets love in every bite.” 18 | AUSTIN WOMAN | OCTOBER 2019
Many an Austinite has long known the capital city is in love with pets, but now it’s official. According to WalletHub’s 2019 ranking of the most petfriendly cities in the U.S., Austin ranks fourth based on a variety of criteria, including the costs associated with pet care, the number of pet-friendly businesses and the amount of pet-related outdoor opportunities available. Among the city’s pet-loving attributes noted in the findings is that Austin is one of six cities home to the most dog-friendly restaurants per capita.
Austin Oral Surgery is our family tradition. “When I was 17, I needed my wisdom teeth removed. Dad put me in the caring hands of the doctors at Austin Oral Surgery. Last year, when Dad needed help with dental implants, I returned the favor. For us, Austin Oral Surgery is a family tradition.� The surgeons of Austin Oral Surgery are board-certified specialists offering a complete scope of oral and maxillofacial services at 12 convenient locations in Central Texas. Before you consider oral surgery for your family, call 512-591-9557. AustinOralSurgery.com
A legacy of exceptional care Cedar Park Central Austin
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GIVE BACK
LEADER OF THE PACK
Animal advocate Kristine Krolczyk is giving back to four-legged—and two-legged—friends in need through Happy Hooves Healing Hearts. BY SABRINA LEBOEUF Krolczyk traveled with a purpose to Peru in November 2017. There, she donated her time at an all-girls orphanage in the Andes mountains, helping celebrate the girls’ birthdays with a special dinner. “I didn’t realize chicken was a treat to them. … It wasn’t something they get every day. It was a luxury,” Krolczyk says. “And they wanted to take what chicken was left on the bones and wrap it in napkins and put it under the pillow to share with one another at night before bed.” After learning about this heart-rending wish, Krolczyk applied her talent with animals yet again. By the end of her trip, she made sure the orphanage had a chicken coop and each girl had her very own hen, which meant the girls would have access to a sustainable food source with the eggs and learn the merits of caring for a community of animals. Heartened by the impact one birthday celebration had, Krolczyk headed back to Peru “I just couldn’t get…little Wilbur out of my mind in September. She says the chicken coop she established years ago is thriving. And she was because he was living in able to give back to three other homes for girls in the country. the backyard of this home,” During her visit to one particular girls’ home in Huancarama, Peru, Krolczyk says. “He was a “It’s just about building a Krolczyk learned the girls were in need of computers for their schoolwork, rescue, you know, from the community of believing mattresses, a water tank, first-aid supplies and clothes. Beyond necessities, waters. And so, then we drove Krolczyk hopes to provide them with comforters, board games and other and drove, and then I said to and giving back and doing items to make their living space “a happy place to call home.” my friend, ‘You know what? I’d “We have a lot of work ahead of us, but we are going to make this really like to start a sanctuary.’ ’” good in the world and Before driving back to happen, as this is no way to live,” Krolczyk says. creating more positivity.” Austin, Krolczyk lifted Wilbur To raise funds for its many projects, Happy Hooves Healing Hearts will and another pig named Pork host its annual Haunts for Hounds masquerade gala this month. Chop into the back of her van by her own strength. This was only the beginning of what would become Krolczyk’s recuse-driven, nonprofit animal sanctuary. HAPPY HOOVES HEALING HEARTS’ HAUNTS FOR HOUNDS GALA Krolczyk continued to give farm animals the home Oct. 27, 5 to 8 p.m., Hudson Bend Ranch, 5102 Doss Road they needed. Between rescuing miniature horses from To learn more about Happy Hooves Healing Hearts and purchase tickets a slaughterhouse and taking in an array of goats, she for the upcoming gala, visit happyhooveshealinghearts.org. was able to create Happy Hooves Healing Hearts, a sizable animal sanctuary next to her for-profit pet-care business, My Love Fur Paws. So far, the Happy Hooves Healing Hearts gang includes three pigs, five nanny goats, two rabbits, one rooster, two hens, two horses and several farm cats. The animal sanctuary’s name is directly in line with Krolczyk’s mission to heal and give back to those around her, no matter how many legs they have. “To me, it’s just about building a community of believing and giving back and doing good in the world and creating more positivity,” Krolczyk says. In the Austin area alone, Krolczyk gives back by organizing multiple projects related to her animal sanctuary. She and her furry friends have helped people with autism and PTSD by working with volunteer therapists. She’s also organizing a free pet-vaccines event in November for low-income families in the area. Her work extends beyond Texas. When Puerto Rico was devastated by Hurricane Maria, Krolczyk made her way there to volunteer at a spay-and-neuter clinic. Going above and beyond, when she found several dogs in need there, she even flew them off the island and found them new forever homes. “We just do a lot of different things that a normal animal sanctuary wouldn’t do,” Krolczyk says. “I call it travel with a purpose. And so, you travel the world and you give back. And there’s actually a purpose to your Kristine Krolczyk with Pork Chop and Willow travel other than just for oneself.” 20 | AUSTIN WOMAN | OCTOBER 2019
Photo courtesy of Fetching Fido Fotography.
In the wake of Hurricane Harvey, thousands of people lost their homes. So did two pigs. Wilbur was one pig in need of lodging after the Category 4 hurricane made landfall in 2017. While driving through the affected areas and distributing pet supplies, Kristine Krolczyk came upon Wilbur and the story of how he was pulled onto a boat before the hurricane-generated flood waters swept him away.
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FROM THE DESK OF
SUSAN ANDERSON
The Pet Gal shares her tips for what to consider before getting a pet. BY LINDSEY LOGAN, ILLUSTRATION BY MADISON WEAKLEY
Susan Anderson is a pet sitter extraordinaire. After a brief stint in the corporate world, Anderson decided a predictable job was not the route for her. Looking to feel fulfilled, she decided to pursue a career focused on something she is passionate about: animals. In 2009, Anderson founded a professional pet-sitting company, The Pet Gal. Anderson makes sure the company sets itself apart by offering experienced, vetted sitters, dog walkers and more clients can trust. The Pet Gal offers pet-focused professional services in most parts of Central Texas, as well as in Colorado Springs, Colo., and Kona, Hawaii. Here, Anderson shares her top tips for how every animal lover can best prepare before bringing a pet home. CHOOSE A PET THAT FITS YOUR LIFESTYLE. “The best pet for you will depend on your lifestyle. Perhaps you have young kids and are looking to get a dog. It will be important to get a dog that is OK with children. If you adopt from a shelter or a rescue group, make sure to confirm with them that the dog is OK with children. And then, if you travel a lot but you want to have a companion pet, cats are a wonderful option. Most cats don’t necessarily need to be socialized or need to be around a lot of people; they can be very independent. And, of course, if you do have a full-time job but want to have a dog, it might be worth having a dog walker come so they can get the exercise and socialization they need while you’re at work.” RESCUE! “Definitely consider adopting a rescue from either a shelter or rescue group. There are multiple breed-specific rescues in the Austin area. We actually adopted from Golden Ribbon Rescue. … People are always surprised there are golden retrievers that need to be rescued, but tons of them come into Central Texas every year, along with Labradors and pit bulls. Getting a rescue is a huge plus. Think about it this way: For every dog you rescue, you are actually saving two because it creates space in a shelter for a new pet to come in.” GET EDUCATED ABOUT PET BEHAVIOR. “Education is probably the most important thing when getting a pet. You want to prepare your whole family for a new pet. Make sure everyone is on the same page when it comes to training and communication. Make sure you know what puppy behavior means. They go through teething and explore the world with their mouths, so they need to have the right toys and treats. It also takes time to potty train them and is essential they are on a schedule. And then, with cats, know how to read and interact with their body language.”
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MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE RESOURCES. “Consider if you have space for a dog. Whether it’s a puppy or adult dog, training is greatly beneficial. You will want to establish a relationship with a local veterinarian because young pets need to get immunizations. If you get a pet from a rescue, they typically come with their shots, but you should still establish a relationship with a vet. Be aware of a local emergency vet as well.” CHOOSE A PET SITTER WISELY. “Trust is so important in this business. Clients are giving us access to their homes and having us care for their pets. Reliability, value, quality care and customer service are things people should want to look for when hiring a pet-care company. Definitely read reviews and ask friends how they like their pet-care provider.”
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PIT BULLS 101
Local nonprofit Love-A-Bull educates about and advocates for America’s most debated ‘aggressive’ dog breed. BY HANNAH J. PHILLIPS Crystal Dunn has worked with pit bulls for almost 15 years. Like many full-time animal-care workers, she started by volunteering at her local shelter. Living in Houston at the time, Dunn recalls working with pitbull-type dogs, but she didn’t think any differently of them. Their goofy personalities and eagerness to please in training made it clear to her their reputation as an aggressive breed comes from a combination of misconceptions and human error. “Since there are five breeds described as ‘pit bull,’ ” Dunn says, “it’s really just a general descriptor of a stalky, muscular dog ranging anywhere from 30 to 100 pounds. That’s a pretty broad brush to say they all have the same inclinations and drivers. You’re lumping couch potatoes with high-energy breeds and everything in between.” The generalization gets even trickier when attempting to define what constitutes an “aggressive” breed. For some, this word refers to a boundary-sensitive dog that protects property. For others, the term means a dog that bites. But the reality, according to Dunn, is any dog has the propensity to bite, from the tiniest poodle to the biggest Great Dane. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention corroborates this data, noting the important thing is to know why dogs bite and that human behavior is often at the root. “The dog threshold for tolerance may vary,” explains Dunn, advocating that dogs should be considered individually. “You hear stories of smaller dogs biting too, so it’s better not to stereotype any one breed. It really depends on how patient they are.”
HOW TO START THE CONVO
PIT BULLS BY THE NUMBERS
Love-A-Bull’s Crystal Dunn offers some tips for how to be a responsible advocate for the pit-bull breed and start the conversation about destigmatizing the breed in your community.
5 MILLION
Don’t shy away from calling your pup a pit bull. “The only thing that changes people’s minds is presence and willingness to discuss that topic. It’s common for pit-bull owners to call their dogs ‘mixed breeds,’ but the more we can use the term ‘pit bull,’ the more it turns the stigma.” Know the burden of behavior rests heavier on pit bulls than on other dogs. “Since the breed is constantly under scrutiny, people judge more quickly if a pit bull makes a mistake. Don’t stop taking your dog in public, but be prepared to train them for those activities. That said, once you teach your dog how to respect certain boundaries and communicate, all the rest falls into place.” If you do get negative comments, listen to them. “The only way to target the real fear behind a negative comment is to hear the person out. You have to be patient enough to let them feel heard, and that makes them a lot more open to your response.”
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According to Austin organization Love-A-Bull, there are about 5 million pit-bull-type dogs in the United States, most of which are well-socialized and well-behaved pets.
20 STATES Breed-specific legislation, or BSL, bans or restricts certain types of dogs based on their appearance because they are perceived as dangerous breeds or types of dogs. As of 2016, about 20 U.S. states maintained some sort of anti-BSL.
ONE IN 112,400 While no dog breed is aggressive to humans by nature, pit-bull-type dogs get a bad rap for being biters. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates about 4.7 million Americans are bitten by dogs each year, resulting in approximately 16 fatalities. But as of 2016, the U.S. National Safety Council showed the chances of dying from a dog bite are one in 112,400. Americans are almost twice as likely—one in 63,225—to die from a hornet, bee or wasp sting than from a dog bite.
Dunn started training dogs professionally in 2006 after noticing the emotional toll of her volunteer work at the shelter. Transporting dogs to and from adoption sites left Dunn feeling helpless and depressed, so she decided to address the root problem through education. In Houston, she worked with organizations that provided therapy-dog services to eldercare facilities and to children learning compassion. Moving to Austin in 2010, she connected with a local meetup group called Love-A-Bull and asked if there was any interest in incorporating a therapy-dog program. Dunn helped launch Love-ABull’s Pit Crew therapy-dog program in 2011 and today, acts as vice president of the board of directors. At first, Dunn and the folks at Love-A-Bull had to convince quite a few people to let them bring pit bulls into the places where they wanted to volunteer. But once it caught on, they had more requests than they could handle. “It’s been interesting to see the perception of pit bulls change so dramatically over the years,” Dunn says with a smile, attributing much of the change to the work the representatives of Austin Pets Alive! and the Austin Animal Center have done to make and keep Austin a no-kill city. As the community learns the importance of avoiding pet overpopulation, they also learn more about the breeds that most need rescuing. Part of this education also has to do with changing negative media representation, which Dunn believes stems from a desire to drive online engagement. “No one wants to read a headline about the ‘vicious Labrador,’ ” she says, “but put the words ‘aggressive pit bull’ in any story and you’ll rack up a ton of traffic, debate and shares on both sides of the breedism issue. It feeds a preexisting fear and reinforces what people think they already know.” Love-A-Bull’s mission is to change that conversation through advocacy and education. Its programs not only support the community, but also offer the media more opportunities to share positive stories about pit bulls. Apart from The Pit Crew, Love-A-Bull promotes responsible guardianship and provides spay/neuter clinics, foster programs and housing resources, and fights against breed-discriminatory legislation. “Our temperament-tested therapy dogs become ambassadors of the breed,” Dunn says. “And that’s the magic of The Pit Crew.”
DOS AND DON’TS TO DECREASE DOG BITES While studies disagree about which breed is most likely to bite, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports any dog can bite. The important thing is to know why dogs bite, and human behavior is often at the root. Here are a few dos and don’ts to keep in mind: 7 Don’t: disturb a dog that is sleeping, eating or caring for puppies 7 Don’t: pet a dog without allowing it to see and sniff you first 3 Do: always supervise children around dogs of any breed. Studies show behaviors most likely to provoke a dog bite are grabbing, pulling and tugging. 3 Do: always ask that it’s OK to pet someone’s else dog before reaching out to pet it.
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WOMEN to WATCH Our pages are full of stories of Austin’s most engaging, empowering and successful women, and this section is specially designed to provide you access to even more incredible role models and success stories. Be part of this amazing tribe and share your story with thousands of women. Contact us at sales@awmediainc.com or call 512.328.2421 for more information. PHOTOS BY ROMINA OLSON
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MANDY WHALEY
S E N I O R D I R E C T O R O F D E V E L O P E R E X P E R I E N C E AT C I S C O D E V N E T
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s the senior director of developer experience for Cisco DevNet, Mandy Whaley takes her love for writing code to the next level. While she started her career as a chemical engineer, today, she leads a team that is building Cisco’s developer strategy and community. Whaley is focused on software development and application programming interface strategy, and she is passionate about supporting diverse groups through developer education. She recently led the launch of developer certifications that are designed to educate Cisco’s global networking community about software and APIs. She is currently the chair of Austin Community College’s computer studies advisory board and leads initiatives to create career paths in cybersecurity, software development and data science. She holds a Master of Science degree in computer engineering and a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering from the University of Texas. Whaley has practiced yoga for 25 years and uses this practice to stay present and mindful in her career and as the mom of two boys. developer.cisco.com
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FO UND ER O F YÖ K O RG A NIC D EO D O R A N T
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aRika McGee is the founder of Yök Organic Deodorant and the creator of Yök Body Essentials. McGee has long served Austin as the owner of The Salon Hyder & Hill. Guiding women into feeling and looking their best with the latest styles and fashion, McGee completes more than 75 hours of continuing education every year. Her passion for empowering women and her love for nature motivated McGee to create organic products without harmful chemicals. McGee knows it’s possible to make small yet effective changes in lifestyle that benefit overall health. Yök is committed to raising the bar and setting new standards for natural products. The Yök team understands the future of naturals is in quality, plant-powered formulas and using superior ingredients to create the ultimate body-essentials experience. Yök scents are selected according to smells that promote positive energy and clarity. When developing her formulas, McGee identifies innovative botanicals and incorporates minerals derived from nature that boast healthy benefits. She never purchases ingredients from suppliers that test their products on animals. Yök is committed to staying cruelty-free by Leaping Bunny Program standards and is certified vegan. All Yök products are aluminum-free and the containers are BPA-free. yokessentials.com
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NICOLE DEANGELIS FOUNDER OF JOEY RO
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icole DeAngelis founded Joey Ro with her pup, Alfie, to celebrate the special bond people have with their pets. Most of DeAngelis’ neighbors know her as “Alfie’s mom.” The two have been romping around Austin together, taking selfies since 2013, when DeAngelis adopted him from a local rescue organization. Because Alfie is her son and basically a human, DeAngelis wanted him to have better than the run-of-the-mill collar. In an effort to style him in accessories that complemented her own sensibilities, she went about designing a classic line of accessories made to be mixed and matched with both the seasons and her own ensembles. She named the brand Joey Ro as a nod to the baby kangaroo/mama bond and built the product line around a patent-pending collar designed to seamlessly accessorize with detail-oriented bow ties, bandanas and leashes. The best part is that all the pet accessories come with coordinating counterparts for pet moms and dads. The company offers headbands, scarves, watchbands and more. Austin Woman readers can preorder Joey Ro products and claim an exclusive perk. joeyro.com/aw
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THE GHOSTS WITH THE MOST Spending the night at Texas’ most haunted hotel isn’t for the faint of heart. STORY AND PHOTOS BY NIKI JONES
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ADVENTURE GIRL
When I heard there was a very haunted hotel less than an hour away from Austin, I knew I had to check it out, and I decided to bring along the most scaredy-cat friend I could find. So, I called up Austin Woman’s very own managing editor, Chantal Rice, and told her she was the lucky one. After much protest, she gave in and we headed down to Seguin, Texas, to the Haunted Magnolia Hotel. “Remind me why I’m doing this,” Chantal said as we rolled through the sleepy little town, minutes from our arrival. “Because you needed a fun little getaway!” I answered, pretending not to notice the daggers she was shooting me with her eyes. The Haunted Magnolia Hotel sits on a sleepy corner in Seguin’s historic district, just off the town square, and looks like a haunted hotel right out of central casting. It also looks abandoned, complete with a “Closed. Will return at…” sign (with no hands on the clock) dangling from the front door. But when we walked up the path and knocked on the door, Owners Erin O. Wallace and Jim Ghedi welcomed us with big smiles. Erin, a museum curator and the author of Haunted New Braunfels: A True Wild West Ghost Town, has been interested in ghost stories since her childhood, and when she and Jim learned the historic Magnolia Hotel was sitting I saw a slow-moving abandoned and in disrepair in Seguin, the Austin couple decided to convince the owners to orb of light tumble sell it to them, thus beginning the painstaking across the living room and years-long process to preserve the property using original items found in the depths of and then disappear. the building itself. The couple split their time between Austin and living on-site in a small apartment on the ground floor of the hotel. Ready for some action, Chantal and I set about on the guided ghost tour, during which Erin took us room to room, offering up some history and introducing us to the specific ghosts that inhabit each area of the historic building. (There are at least 13 ghosts haunting the Magnolia, according to Erin.) Erin explained the ghosts could be seen, felt, heard and sometimes even smelled, and that each likes to interact with guests in a different way. She also said the ghosts take photos on guests’ phones. I figured that would be a good gauge to prove this place was the real deal since a photo I didn’t take would surely be solid evidence of ghost activity. The tour included the unfinished half of the building upstairs, which looks like it is straight out of a horror movie. While Erin was telling us about one of the ghosts named Rose, Chantal and I suddenly smelled a strong powdery odor wafting through the hot, stagnant air. “Yup, that’s Rose,” Erin confirmed. This was the moment we really realized just what we were in for. As the hour-long tour wrapped up, Erin and Jim handed us two electromagnetic field radiation detectors, said good night and then casually mentioned they would not be on-site that evening, that Chantal and I would be all alone—in that big, scary building where no one could hear our screams. As Erin and Jim bid us adieu, an antique rocking chair in the corner began to rock on its own. “The rocking chair!” I yelled and pointed, while Chantal exclaimed, “It’s rocking!” “Oh, yes,” Jim shrugged. “Good night!” We headed upstairs to our well-appointed and newly renovated apartment, where I settled into my bedroom and Chantal settled into her adjoining one. I sat on the bed and loudly invited the ghosts to interact with us “in a friendly way, please,” until Chantal begged me to ask them to please not interact. We sat on the bed and watched the EMF meter, which stayed lit on blue, indicating no paranormal activity—until it began maniacally flashing orange, one step away from its highest level of red. We screamed and turned it off. It was only 6 p.m. and we already needed a break, so we set out through town to find some food (and, let’s be honest, a stiff cocktail). While guzzling some drinks from a nearby bar, we reviewed the photos we had taken so far. To our astonishment, we saw three photos on my iPhone that I did not take. Two images were simply black, but the third one showed the staircase that led up to our apartment. By checking where in the order of photos the staircase image fell, we were able to deduce that it was taken as we were leaving to go to dinner—while the phone was in my pocket and locked! As the sky got darker by the minute, Chantal and I walked back to the Magnolia, terror building with each step. Our plan was to go to bed early in hopes that morning would come quickly and our exploit would end with us unscathed. But as I began to settle into my bedroom (where, by the way, an older woman named Amelia had once perished in her sleep), Chantal relentlessly beseeched me to sleep with her in her bed. 34 | AUSTIN WOMAN | OCTOBER 2019
The unrenovated side of the hotel was the most terrifying.
We were happiest when the EMF meter was safely blue.
No living person took this photo.
Worn down, I agreed, and after checking the lock on the door leading to the ridiculously creepy unfinished half of the second story of the building and choosing which rooms’ lights to leave on overnight, we felt confident enough—erroneously, as it turns out—that we could try to get some sleep. From my side of the bed, I had a view of the living room, where, Erin had told us, the ghost of a traveling salesman haunts. While Chantal and I were chatting as we desperately begged for sleep to take us, I saw a slow-moving orb of light tumble across the living room and then disappear. I tried to convince myself it was just the reflection of a car’s headlights passing by on the street below, but then I realized I hadn’t heard any activity outside. And if a car had passed by the hotel, we absolutely would have heard it since our room was pin-drop silent. Also, to say Seguin is a sleepy town is an understatement; we hadn’t seen any moving vehicles, save for one slow-rolling police cruiser, since we had begun to walk back from dinner. I was successful in concealing from Chantal the fact that I’d seen the orb, lest she jump out the window and sprint back to Austin. But the fear in me was real, and three hours later, while I restlessly waited for sleep to come, I saw it again. As I lie awake, Chantal, next to me, was in the same boat, so when we heard the loud and distinctive sound of a Champagne cork popping, we both sat up in bed, terrified. Morning couldn’t come soon enough, but finally, the sun rose and we realized we had made it through, despite being bleary-eyed and sleep-deprived. It wasn’t until Chantal and I were safely in the car headed back to Austin that I told her I had seen a ghostly orb twice in the night. She thanked me for not telling her at the time. But what she didn’t know is the real reason I didn’t tell her: I was absolutely sure she’d have taken my keys, stolen my car and fled into the night. She also didn’t know that just in case, I had hidden my keys.
A woman named Amelia died in this guest room and now haunts the space.
A traveling salesman’s ghost haunts the living room.
From the street, a staricase leads to the guest rooms.
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SEE HER WORK
STILL WILDLIFE
Artist Eli Halpin draws inspiration from her Alaskan childhood and the animals she encounters in everyday life. BY COURTNEY RUNN
While Halpin currently has only one pet—Lefse, a Siamese cat lovingly named after her favorite Scandinavian potato-based flatbread—she grew up with rabbits, cats, hermit crabs, fish, birds and a dog. She remembers stopping during family road trips in her home state of Alaska to photograph wild animals and has fond memories of finding moose nibbling on leaves outside her bedroom window. Today, she takes inspiration from animals she encounters in everyday life, from colorful roosters she met on the Funky Chicken Coop Tour in Austin last year to sea life she swam with during a recent diving trip in Hawaii. Halpin has always been creative but started painting full time close to 17 years ago. Now she works at and sells her art from her studio at 1023 Springdale Road in East Austin. Her guiding aspiration is to paint every day, regardless of how she’s feeling. She dons her apron, and once the brush is in her hand, passion and creativity flow. 36 | AUSTIN WOMAN | OCTOBER 2019
Photo courtesy of Eli Halpin.
All animals are welcome in Eli Halpin’s studio. From blushing deer and rabbits with a sweet tooth to rainbow-colored cobras and goats in sweaters, no animal is excluded from Halpin’s whimsical collection of paintings and gifts.
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Photos courtesy of Eli Halpin.
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CREATURE COMFORTS
Interior designer Jessica Love shares her tips for pet-proofing your home. BY COURTNEY RUNN
Bringing home a new pet is like bringing home a baby: Suddenly, your home is an obstacle course of sharp edges and stainable surfaces. As the principal of Austin-based Urbane Design, Jessica Love is used to accommodating her clients’ pets and has two rescue dogs of her own, Bowie and Cornelius. “I’m a huge advocate for rescues,” she says. “But I love all animals.” Whether you’re bringing home a bright-eyed pup or a furry senior citizen or moving homes with your pets in tow, here’s what Love recommends when decorating.
SOURCE VINTAGE RUGS.
“When it comes to rugs, I recommend 100 percent wool rugs, which not every designer would, but I love vintage rugs,” Love says. “If you have a rug that’s been around for 100 years, a pet’s not going to mess it up…so I always push for hand-tufted wool rugs.” INSTALL PET DOORS.
If your dog weighs more than 50 pounds, Love suggests vinyl, laminate or tile to avoid their nails scratching up hardwood floors.
“Cats can be really smelly creatures, so it was always really important for me to have a cat door installed either to a garage or to a utility room to act as the cat’s own potty room. So, I think [pet doors] can be really useful in the home,” Love says. If you’re concerned about racoons or possums taking up residence through pet doors accessing the outdoors, look for models that are triggered by magnets in your pet’s collar.
CHOOSE DURABLE FABRICS.
INSTALL ASTROTURF OUTSIDE.
Leather couches and kittens don’t mix well. When choosing sofa fabrics, Love recommends high-performance fabrics and fabrics with tighter weaves for pets prone to scratching and clawing at furniture. She also discourages linen or cotton. “They’re very, very hard to clean and do stretch easily,” she says, “so I definitely avoid those on finishes with pets or children.”
Love recently installed AstroTurf in parts of her own yard for easy dog maintenance and cleanup. “One, I don’t have to mow the grass, and two, it has a porous layer underneath, so...if [my dogs] urinate on it, I can spray it down with a water hose and soft cleaner, and it doesn’t absorb smells,” she says.
Photo by Sarah Natsumi Moore.
AVOID HARDWOOD FLOORS WITH LARGE PETS.
38 | AUSTIN WOMAN | OCTOBER 2019
AVOID SHARP-EDGED FURNITURE.
If you have an aging pet, consider the height of your pet and be aware of any sharp edges or obstructed paths that could hurt a pet with visibility or mobility issues. TALK TO YOUR DESIGNER ABOUT YOUR PETS.
If you’re working with a designer, mention the age and breed of your pet to guide your décor plan. “If you tell me, ‘I have two dogs and a cat and I might add more and I’m thinking of getting into fostering and I have two kids,’ ” Love says, “I am never, ever going to recommend we get a glass coffee table and white leather sofa.”
BARKITECTURE When: Oct. 27, noon to 4 p.m. | Where: Fair Market What: A “custom doghouse show and auction by Austin’s best architects, builders and designers,” Barkitecture is going on year 15 of raising money for dog-rescue organizations.
JESSICA LOVE’S FAVORITE LOCAL SHOPS Pretty Kennels for handcrafted kennels that aren’t an eyesore in your living room The Southern Loom for vintage rugs durable enough for any pet Hearth & Soul for dog clothes and other fashionable pet accessories
Top left and top right photos by Katia Forero. Other photos by Sarah Natsumi Moore.
P & F Pet Provisions for all your daily pet needs
ATXWOMAN.COM | 39
H
OME
IN THE DOGHOUSE
STAYING AND PLAYING
Jumping Jack Dog Ranch is a pet resort like no other. BY NIKI JONES
Having your dog on the waiting list at Jumping Jack Dog Ranch in Manchaca, Texas, is likely not dissimilar to what New York City parents experience when trying to get their children into a tony Manhattan preschool. It’s not uncommon for clients to book their dogs’ boarding stay a year out. “Did you get in for next Wednesday?” one dog parent may ask another, only to hear, “We’ve been wait-listed.” The ranch offers day-school and day-care services, training, boarding, grooming, photography and pool rentals at its one-of-a-kind dogthemed oasis, which includes a bone-shaped island, doggie beach area and fire-hydrant fountain. Jumping Jack’s swimming pool isn’t the only thing that sets the ranch
Dogs have a blast splashing and swimming in the ranch’s pool.
apart from other dog-boarding facilities. Technology is everywhere, from the customer interface (including daily report cards with photos) to the machines used to keep the kennels sparkling clean to virtual tours of the ranch. This makes perfect sense since Owner Brett Mundy comes from both a tech background and a dog-training, -boarding and -grooming background. Another differentiation of the 11-acre ranch is that it’s completely force-free, which means no shock, choke or prong collars are allowed. Dog playgroups are handpicked by the staff according to temperament. The ranch’s working dogs are mixed in to help neutralize any potential negative energy. There’s no one-program-fits-all path at Jumping Jack; each dog’s personality and situation is taken into account. There’s even a humans-only playtime option and a geriatric-dog program.
The ranch’s 11-acre country setting is a dog’s paradise.
There are lots of fun attractions in the play yard.
40 | AUSTIN WOMAN | OCTOBER 2019
Photos courtesy of Jumping Jack Dog Ranch.
According to Owner Brett Mundy, it’s an art form to build a playgroup of dogs that are compatible.
“Our motto is ’All dogs welcome,’ and it’s true. … Every dog is unique and they’re all special.” -Brett Mundy
Owner Brett Mundy with one of the ranch’s working dogs, Daisy
Technology plays a huge part in how the kennel area is kept clean.
Photos courtesy of Jumping Jack Dog Ranch.
The pool at the ranch is available for private hourly rental.
Impressive bluebonnet fields and on-site photographers make for perfect pup pics.
ATXWOMAN.COM | 41
42 | AUSTIN WOMAN | OCTOBER SEPTEMBER 2019 2019
UNLEASHING
HOPE As the longtime CEO of the Austin Humane Society, Frances Jonon is a fierce animal advocate, helming the city’s largest no-kill nonprofit shelter with grace, understanding and an abundance of compassion. BY JENNY HOFF
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PHOTOS BY RUDY AROCHA
HAIR AND MAKEUP BY ALICIA BELLER
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STYLED BY NIKI JONES
ust weeks after Frances Jonon was named CEO of the Austin Humane Society, Hurricane Katrina hit Louisiana and left thousands of animals in Texas’ neighboring state in need of shelter. Organizing disaster relief certainly wasn’t how Jonon had planned for her first few months as a young CEO. She had spent the previous nine years fastidiously rising through the ranks at AHS, but she’d never dealt with a need of this scale, accommodating animals that still had owners and helping displaced hurricane survivors stay in constant contact with their pets. Her expertise was in dogs and cats, not pigs, geese and other surprising house pets that would flow into her facility in the coming days. “If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that how we envision our lives and how our lives actually turn out is usually very different,” she says, smiling at the memory. “And we’ve got to be open to that.” It’s a lesson Jonon has learned again and again
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SHOT ON LOCATION AT MUELLER
in her career and personal life. As a girl, she pictured herself as a doctor, healing and offering comfort to the sick. While in college, she focused her studies on biological sciences and worked at a hospital. But her plans got sidetracked when she left the hospital, and eventually college, to join her best friend, Tammy Fox, as an employee at the Austin Humane Society. Starting out on kennel duty, cleaning cages and feeding the animals, she felt a sense of belonging, the kind of camaraderie she had hoped to experience at the hospital, only to find it too clinical an environment for her personality. Before she knew it, she had stopped taking college classes altogether and instead, took on full-time roles within the organization, including foster supervisor and director of operations. While she loved the work and the organization, she never imagined she would one day become the face and heart of it. ATXWOMAN.COM | 43
“I didn’t intend to become CEO. I thought a CEO was loud, commanding, tough. I’m not like that. I’m much more soft-spoken. I love strategy and,” Jonon admits with a laugh, “I’m not a huge fan of public speaking.” But Jonon is a huge fan of solving problems, helping animals and connecting people with pets that complete their families. The Austin Humane Society’s motto is “Unleash Hope,” and Jonon says she relies on that motto in her organization and in her life. Even when confronted with sad stories and occasional tragedy, there is always a brighter road ahead. That philosophy, coupled with a great sense of humor, has helped her get through some of the more emotionally taxing days to thrive in her position. “Once I accepted putting away perceptions of what it should be and made it my own, I found what I love and enjoy the most,” she says. “I love the people aspect. Our work is heavily tied to people as much as animals.” It’s people working together, Jonon has found, that can help make the impossible possible. When Hurricane Katrina hit, Jonon immediately reached out to her former boss and mentor, Karen Medicus, who led the Austin Humane Society when Jonon first joined. Medicus, who was working with the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals national organization during Hurricane Katrina, helped train Jonon and her team for disaster management. Together, they worked with the City of Austin to organize a way for evacuees to stay in contact with their pets, providing shuttles that ran throughout the day between temporary housing and the Austin Humane Society. “It was all they had, their animals,” Jonon recalls. “Some of them came over in the morning to hang out all day and take the shuttle back at night. They would help us, and it was an amazing experience.” Medicus, who now works as a business consultant, describes her former employee as the kind of leader who doesn’t micromanage, but who motivates her team to take ownership of their roles. “Frances is herself building other leaders,” Medicus says. “A great leader really recognizes the strengths in their team and gives them what they need to excel at what they do.” It’s a lesson Jonon learned from Medicus when she was early in her career with AHS and one she instills in her own staff today. When AHS’s current chief operations officer, Dr. Katie Luke, first applied for a job with the organization 13 years ago, she didn’t consider shelter work a serious career path. As a young veterinarian still deciding how to best use her skills, she popped into the shelter on a Saturday in shorts and a T-shirt while on her way back from a garage sale in order to inquire about part-time opportunities performing surgeries. She wasn’t too serious about it. This wasn’t part of her life plan. Then she met Frances Jonon. “Thinking back, I remember there was this twinkle in her eye as I told her I was only looking for part-time work,” Luke recalls, laughing. “It turns out she had much bigger plans.” Once Jonon convinced Luke to join her team, she got to work on turning AHS into the state’s premier feral-cat spay-and-neuter center. Jonon used her ability to collaborate and her deep knowledge of animal care to convince Texas A&M University to loan out its teaching-facility surgical suite to the center so AHS could offer spaying and neutering for feral cats. AHS now conducts more than 5,500 surgeries each year. It’s the largest program of its kind in Central Texas, if not the entire state. What was supposed to be a part-time job has become the most fulfilling career Luke could have imagined, due in no small part to Jonon, whom she describes as a visionary CEO who also understands what it takes to make those ideas become reality. She’s also a CEO who wants to see her team members get the recognition they deserve. Luke has spoken throughout the country about the importance of shelter medicine and the various job opportunities for veterinarians who want to be animal advocates. In the spring, she and Jonon were asked to teach the sheltermedicine elective course at Texas A&M University. They attracted three times the number of students who usually sign up for the class. “That’s something I’m really proud of,” says Jonon, who never finished college herself but is now an in-demand instructor at Texas’ premier university for veterinary studies. “It’s exciting to see interest in this field growing.” Under Jonon’s leadership, AHS has grown from servicing 2,500 animals per year to helping 11,000, though, in 2019, it had a record year, serving more than 13,000 animals. It’s the largest no-kill shelter in the city. With 43 employees and more 44 | AUSTIN WOMAN | OCTOBER 2019
FRANCES JONON ON BECOMING TOP DOG, HOW TO NOT BE A LONE WOLF AND THE POWER OF GOOD OLD-FASHIONED HORSE SENSE Austin Woman: What would you say to a woman who wants to be in a leadership position but isn’t sure she’s cut out for it? Frances Jonon: “I would tell them my story. My first role here was working in the kennels and then I was a fostercare coordinator. The future is possible. Everything you want is within reach.” AW: What have you learned about leadership in your career with the Austin Humane Society? FJ: “I do think, in leadership, it really is about building a great team that is communicating effectively. I feel like I had to learn how to do that and hire people smarter than me in whatever area they’re working in.” AW: You originally wanted to be a doctor and then left college to work full time at the Austin Humane Society. How did you reconcile what you wanted to do with what you thought you should do? FJ: “I found myself loving what I was doing here. It took me awhile to realize what I loved to do should be what I want to do.” AW: What’s your advice to someone thinking about getting a pet? FJ: “I feel like it is really important to find the right fit. The right fit might not be what you expect. Someone who comes in probably thinks they want one thing, but what they find might be different. It should be what is right for their family and life.”
Page 42: Joie Rafaella floral silk chiffon top, $298, available at Nordstrom, 2901 S. Capital of Texas Hwy., nordstrom.com. Jeans, jewelry and shoes, model’s own. Page 45: Reformation Sadie V-neck sweater, $198; Paige Ellison T-shirt, $79, available at Nordstrom, 2901 S. Capital of Texas Hwy., nordstrom.com. Pants, model’s own. Earrings, stylist’s own. Page 46: Alice + Olivia Jeannie bow-neck floral burnout top, $295; Leith camisole, $29; Vince wide-leg pants, $295, available at Nordstrom, 2901 S. Capital of Texas Hwy., nordstrom.com. Earrings, model’s own.
ATXWOMAN.COM |  45
ON LOCATION
RAGS TO WAGS GALA
Mueller is one of the nation’s most notable mixed-income, mixed-use communities, located in the heart of Austin. The 700-acre site of Austin’s former airport, just east of I-35 between Airport Boulevard and 51st Street, is being transformed into a diverse, sustainable, compatible, revitalizing and fiscally responsible masterplanned community. Mueller is a joint project between the City of Austin Economic Development Department and Catellus Development. Upon completion, Mueller will feature at least 6,200 single-family and multifamily homes (including more than 1,500 affordable homes), a mixed-use town-center district called Aldrich Street (anchored by Alamo Drafthouse and Thinkery children’s museum), 4.5 million square feet of prime commercial space (including 750,000 square feet of local and regional retail space), 140 acres of public parks and open space, plus Dell Children’s Medical Center, Austin Studios and H-E-B. For more information, visit muelleraustin.com and search “Mueller Austin” on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
What: Rags to Wags gala event benefiting the Austin Humane Society
46 | AUSTIN WOMAN | OCTOBER 2019
When: Nov. 16 Where: Hyatt Regency Austin Details: dinner, cocktails, silent auction, runway show and more Why: to help the Austin Humane Society, the city’s largest no-kill shelter, continue servicing thousands of animals every year. In 2018, the event raised $450,000 for AHS.
“”
FRANCES IS HERSELF BUILDING OTHER LEADERS. A GREAT LEADER REALLY RECOGNIZES THE STRENGTHS IN THEIR TEAM AND GIVES THEM WHAT THEY NEED TO EXCEL AT WHAT THEY DO. —KAREN MEDICUS
than 750 volunteers, Jonon has her plate full and a job that keeps her busy. She has a close-knit team and a deep knowledge of an industry she’s been a part of for more than 23 years that allows her to grow the organization in a way that best benefits the animals in her care. But perhaps most important for a leader of an organization, she knows work isn’t everything. It’s a lesson she learned when she confronted one of the most challenging periods of her life. “I had all these visions of what life would look like, and it included children,” she says. “My job got so busy and we put off having kids and then, when we did, it didn’t happen easily. There were a lot of raised hopes and letdowns.” Suddenly, Jonon added in vitro fertilization treatments, hormone shots and the emotional toll of miscarriages to her already immensely busy life. She still showed up. She still delivered. But she also let her team offer the support she needed. “Each of us have dealt with maternity leave and losses, and we’ve always banded together like that,” Luke says. “One of the biggest benefits of working here is we’re like a family and we care about each other.” Eventually, Jonon and her husband were able to conceive, and she gave birth to a little girl, Julia, now 4 years old. Pictures of the adorable child with her mom’s big smile dot the walls and shelves of Jonon’s office, along with pictures of their rescue dog, Olivia, who, admittedly, was not quite as excited about Julia’s arrival as her parents. “It gives you such an amazing perspective on what really are the big things and what are the little things,” Jonon says. One of the biggest things, she believes, is knowing when to ask for help. Her husband stays home with Julia so she can concentrate on her work. Her team members ensure no one gets too overwhelmed with a job that can often feel overwhelming. And when Jonon suddenly and tragically lost her beloved father, she sought out a therapist to help her deal with the grief. “I can very easily get emotional when I’m talking about her because I know what she’s gone through in her life,” says Tammy Fox-Royer, executive director of the Florida Keys SPCA and the best friend Jonon followed to the Austin Humane Society more than 23 years ago. “She tends to be the one who holds everything together, who takes care of everyone else’s needs. I know this was a really hard time for her.” But, Fox-Royer says, Jonon is also resilient. Perhaps it’s something she learned as she watched the Hurricane Katrina evacuees break into smiles of joy when they greeted their pets, even after they lost everything else. Perhaps it’s from working with animals, some that are in tragic situations but that are always willing to give love to a new caretaker. Perhaps it’s from learning an important lesson early on: that life doesn’t always turn out to be what you expect—and that’s the beauty of it. “When I talk to younger people, I always say, ‘You don’t even know what you don’t even know, and you should remember that always,’ ” Jonon says. “Your path changes and your story will be your story. Do your best, be a good human and appreciate all the good things in life. That’s really what life’s all about.”
ATXWOMAN.COM | 47
Debi Krakar, The Dog Alliance’s executive director
48 | AUSTIN WOMAN | OCTOBER 2019
PAWSITIVELY
THERAPEUTIC
Austin-based nonprofit The Dog Alliance trains and matches service dogs, therapy dogs and emotionalsupport dogs with Central Texans, bettering lives by harnessing the healing power of the pooch. BY BRIANNA CALERI | PHOTOS BY TAYLOR PRINSEN
E
verything is fun for woman’s best friend. From retrieving items to closing doors and providing physical support, a service dog is just playing a game that happens to change human lives. Debi Krakar, a certified dog trainer and the executive director of nonprofit The Dog Alliance, says the dogs love their jobs so much, she would never ask one to stay home all day. The Dog Alliance makes service, therapy and emotional-support placements with 175 therapy teams in about 800 locations a year. Still, it can take years to find a match. It takes 14 to 20 months to train a service dog when starting with a puppy, and only about half make it all the way through to placement. At the finish line, those dogs are calm and responsive to their owners’ needs but not to random external stimuli. Having such selective focus helps relieve veterans of hypervigilance in public places and makes for fewer mishaps with inexperienced strangers, especially children, during therapy. Service placement is free, and the wait is worth it. Any dog and recipient, trained or not, can benefit from each other’s company and the oxytocin (“love hormone”) released when spending time together. Dogs can also help people who experience trouble connecting with strangers by inviting a friendly connection, especially with other pet lovers, and trained dogs can understand when it’s more appropriate to use their presence as social and physical barriers. Even at home, dogs can take the pressure off spouses and family, who often carry emotional weight for loved ones with trauma. Krakar recommends pet parents include a “stay” in their training: telling the dog to wait until he or she is released for food or to greet a friend, or used in any scenario that calls for a calm, quiet pet. Helping dogs learn self-control is a great first step to forging irreplaceable bonds like those shared by a mother, a wife and veteran, and a loving nursing-home community.
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TAFFY 18 months Labrador retriever Service dog Favorite duty: “She loves the positive pressure. She gets to go up on [Troy’s] lap, and he just loves on her and she loves that.” – Dagne Ameigh Favorite place to go: “The backyard or the park, so she can fetch long-distance. Fetching is her high-value reward and her favorite thing.” – Dagne Ameigh Best dog friend: “Loki. They even play fetch together. … Loki will initially retrieve the ball and then he’ll drop it midway so that Taffy can pick it up and bring it the rest of the way back.” – Dagne Ameigh
T
affy is still a puppy, but her mom and skilled trainer, Dagne Ameigh, believed in her so much that she’s already doubled the skills she graduated training with. Ameigh and her husband, Troy Ameigh, started fostering and training German shepherds more than 15 years ago, gaining a reputation as the “big-dog people.” When The Dog Alliance finally introduced the couple to Taffy, Krakar and her team knew she would be in good hands, and Taffy went home early with Dagne Ameigh to finish her training. Troy Ameigh is an Air Force mobility unit veteran. At times, he was an emergency medical technician and a medic, and he’s seen more hardship than he can talk about today. He was discharged with a traumatic brain injury and PTSD from an attack from behind. He met his wife—an honorably discharged Marine Corps veteran who left home for boot camp at age 17—on a blind date she kept canceling until one night when she forgot to call it off and supposed it was too rude and too late to bail. The couple has been together for 18 years and have raised five children, including a foster teen, in addition to taking in exchange students. Taffy has a brother too, a corgi named Loki. The Ameigh house is a busy place run by a family weary of trauma, including the loss of an 18-year-old son after a traumatic brain injury that was, as Dagne Ameigh puts it, “the straw that broke the camel’s back.” Service dogs must demonstrate three skills before being placed, and Taffy’s were “behind,” which uses Taffy’s presence behind Troy Ameigh as a buffer to mitigate his hypervigilance; “positive pressure,” or sitting in Troy Ameigh’s lap; and “nudge,” which looks like Taffy asking for attention but is really an excuse for when Troy Ameigh is getting anxious and needs an excuse to leave. Now Dagne Ameigh is working with her on circling Troy Ameigh in public, waking him up from his night terrors, which she can detect from pheromones, and a building skill that teaches her to “touch” objects like light switches and her new toy, an automatic fetch machine. Now Troy Ameigh can go to crowded places like H-E-B again, with Taffy watching his back. Dagne Ameigh gets more sleep. And most importantly, the family isn’t so burned out anymore. In many ways, Dagne Ameigh is relieved of her job as a “service human,” and can work with Taffy just because she loves it. Unlike other family members, Taffy knows when she’s on the clock, lying calmly with her vest on and immediately flopping over and wiggling when it’s unlatched. “She is his dog,” Dagne Ameigh says, “but she’s still part of the family.”
WORKING DOG SPECIFICATIONS Service
Access to no-pet housing, airplanes, full public access
Helps only their handler
Therapy
No legal protection to be in public places
Travels with their handler to help others
Emotional Support
Some legal protection to be in public places
Provides comfort to their handler
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52 | AUSTIN WOMAN | OCTOBER 2019
CHARLIE BROWN 4 years Shih Tzu Therapy dog Favorite duty: “He likes to greet people. I think that’s his favorite thing, meeting new people. His goal in life is to meet every single person—and other dog too.” – Robert Tycast Favorite place to go: “In the car. He wants to go someplace.” – Robert Tycast Best dog friend: “The new dog, Buddy. Buddy outweighs Charlie by 6 pounds— 50 percent of his weight. He’s a very gentle dog, and they wrestle. Charlie loves to wrestle.” – Robert Tycast
F
our days a week at the Clairmont Retirement Community, residents gather at about lunchtime for a visit with a Bow Wow Therapy Dog sent by The Dog Alliance. Howard Hettleman, a resident known by other community members as incredibly quiet and terse, will make the rounds to remind everyone—in complete sentences—which dog will be visiting that day. Even though residents are used to interacting with pets at the Clairmont, where independent living is strongly encouraged, the therapy visits provide a uniquely trusted and concentrated experience. Therapy dogs like Charlie Brown, a rescue pup that has overcome his separation anxiety with his loving owner, Robert Tycast, must pass exams to show they’re nonreactive and can be trusted to stay calm when well-meaning strangers make them a little uncomfortable. Tycast is present to read Charlie’s stress level, but his presence also provides some valuable social therapy. His overall role is to enable Charlie and the residents to have a great experience together. Jane Cocke Perdue and Margaret Lynn Verhoeff are two social-butterfly residents who make appearances often at the Bow Wow Therapy Dog visits, when their busy schedules allow. The two writers have built insightful understandings of the practice through their own experiences and watching others, even acting as stewards for more reserved residents. “Some residents will never do anything,” says Tina Bertelle, life-enrichment director, “but they’ll vicariously pet the dog when they see Jane petting the dog.” Perdue is an animal lover who has shared her home with dogs, cats, birds and even one monkey. She points out that pet therapy is a great memory aid, both for residents struggling with memory issues and those who simply have very different lives than they used to. “For me,” Perdue says, “the one that reminds me most of the dog that I love the best is my favorite. And that’s probably true of everybody.” For Verhoeff, who has lived in different retirement communities, the program is about appreciating the present. Participating gives her opportunities to meet other residents. She made one friend because she loved walking behind her dog, who moves like a “prima donna.” Just being near a dog invites cheerful social connections. Tycast points out that even the residents who don’t want to pet Charlie do smile and wave, and he rolls the dog in his stroller into the rooms of residents who don’t often, or can’t, leave. Because Bertelle believes so much in pet therapy, she always makes sure there’s something on the big TV in the recreation room, often a calming fish tank. She wants to be sure the room is welcoming, even when it’s empty. “All of a sudden,” she says, “you’re not alone.”
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ADELL 3 1/2 years Terrier mix Service dog Favorite duty: “She just loves to come along wherever my son goes, whether it’s shopping or going to get ices or a cookie or whatever. She just loves going wherever he goes.” – Tami Esson Favorite place to go: “I would say her favorite thing would be to go to the dog auditorium and run around with all the dogs off leash.” – Tami Esson
Best dog friend: “[My mother-in-law] has a small female dog, and at first…Adell wanted nothing to do with her. The next day, I don’t know what happened, but they became besties.” – Tami Esson
E
veryone loves Adell, but she is devoted to one boy only. Tami Esson’s 13-year-old son has such a hold on the dog’s heart that she sits stoic in his room for most of the day when he’s off at school. The two met when Esson was in search of solutions, hoping to reduce the effects of the boy’s avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder, or ARFID, and nine months after the introduction, his mother hesitates to say whether he even still has it. ARFID encompasses unspecified food issues caused by general anxiety and sensory-processing challenges that can lead to malnourishment. Esson’s friend suggested a service dog, but she couldn’t see herself getting one, and her child was terrified of dogs. As her son got sicker, Esson recognized a gut feeling and realized he was not in a position to decide to take a risk for himself. She started talking to The Dog Alliance, but her son was hospitalized a month or two later. It took a year and a half to find Adell, whose calm devotion has even warmed her human boy up to off-leash dog parks, a total departure from his previous life. If not for her little paws clicking across the floor, it would be difficult to tell Adell apart from a stuffed animal. As Esson talks, she strokes Adell gently for so long, it seems like a reflex. “There’s some days that I don’t even realize I have a dog,” Esson says. It’s not easy for a middle schooler to assume full responsibility for a pet, let alone his own anxiety. But Esson was surprised Adell’s walks, meals and grooming were taken care of without her having to ask. The teen and Adell were trained together by The Dog Alliance once or twice a week for months, plus school visits. Since Adell is mostly off school duty for now, Esson takes her out for morning walks. Adell’s specialty is managing the boy’s anxiety just by being present. In a stressful environment for him, a restaurant, for instance, Adell sits under the table and distracts him. Sitting on his belly when there’s more room, she’ll even provide a few pounds of deep compression. Mostly, she helps ease his feelings of anxiety. Adell’s family and school friends all love her, but they know she has a purpose beyond them. “Sometimes we can all be like wallpaper in the room, and she just has eyes for my son,” Esson says. “And that’s OK because he’s the one that needed her, and I’m so thrilled they have that relationship.”
MEALS ON WHEELS: PALS Meals on Wheels Central Texas has been delivering meals to homebound clients since 1972 and expanded to offer home repairs, veteran services and more. Making sure no pet is left behind, the nonprofit organization’s Pets Assisting the Lives of Seniors program adds pet food to the menu. In addition to making deliveries, special PALS volunteers drive pets to free vet visits and to get grooming services, both provided by organization partners. Trap-neuter-release services are provided for community strays. Home visits do more than provide food and convenience.
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“The majority of our pet-owning clients live alone, so they really count on their dogs and cats for companionship, love and purpose,” says program manager Heather Allard. The animal-loving volunteers offer some human relief from the social isolation of living alone, getting to know clients and their pets, trading stories and bonding about a common passion. PALS always accepts donations, including all brands of pet food, gently used or extra supplies and even holiday gifts that will be wrapped and delivered this winter.
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G
OURMET
RECIPE REVEAL
A REAL TREAT
The founder of Dragonfly Dog Bowl shares her popular recipe for homemade dog treats. BY CHANTAL RICE
Allison Teegardin has been cooking for as long as she can remember. In fact, she jokes she’s been coming up with unique recipes since she could reach the kitchen counter. And she was following her mother around the kitchen, soaking up the techniques of meal preparation, long before that. Her culinary mastery has even piqued the interest of celebrity chefs like Bobby Flay, Wolfgang Puck and Rocco DiSpirito, as well as Good Housekeeping magazine. But it was when one of her cherished pups was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease and required a special diet that Teegardin discovered a new culinary love: cooking for dogs. “What started out as an act of necessity quickly became my passion, and I started to cook for other people’s dogs and enrolled in a pet-nutrition certification program,” Teegardin says. “I have painted in my kitchen the quote from Julia Child, ‘People who love to eat are the best people,’ and have added, ‘People who love to feed their dogs healthy food are the best people.’ ” Here, Teegardin shares her recipe for a hearty, healthy and drool-worthy dog treat.
“
I love this recipe because it is nutritious and easy to bake. The best ingredients make the best treats, so I always use local grass-fed beef liver and farm eggs. Beef liver is an excellent source of vitamin A, iron and zinc, but since too much of a good thing is not always a good thing, I feed these sparingly as special treats. The eggs are a high-quality protein which provide choline, vitamin D, B6, B12, as well as zinc, copper and iron. And the garbanzo-bean flour keeps them wheat- and gluten-free. This recipe is an adaptation of my famous treats all the dogs begged for when I was a vendor at the Downtown Buda Farmers Market. – Allison Teegardin
”
BAKED BEEF LIVER MUFFINS Ingredients 1/4 pound beef liver 1 cup garbanzo-bean flour 1/2 cup water 1 egg 1 tablespoon dried parsley Pinch of ground ginger
Directions 1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
3. O nce it’s fully mixed and there are no large pieces of liver showing, add the garbanzo-bean flour, dried parsley and ginger. Mix well in the food processor. 4. U sing a large paw- or bone-shaped silicone mold, spoon 2 tablespoons of the batter into each cavity. (If you don’t have molds, you can line a glass loaf pan with parchment paper and bake, then slice it into small squares. Or use muffin tins with liners so the batter doesn’t stick to the sides.) 5. B ake the treat mixture for 35 to 40 minutes. 6. L et the treats cool before removing them from the mold and serving. (They should be stored in an airtight container and kept in the refrigerator for maximum freshness and fed to your dog sparingly.)
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Photo courtesy of Felicia Reed Photography.
2. I n a food processor, blend the raw beef liver with the egg and water.
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*Minimum order of $30 required. You must be 21+ to shop/order online, receive delivery and pick up in-store. All deliveries require in-person verification of a legal photo ID at point of delivery. Orders will NOT be left unattended. Delivery areas are limited and delivery times vary based on demand. Exclusions apply. Please drink responsibly.
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COME. SIT. STAY.
New Austin bar Mutts Canine Cantina will offer a spot where furry friends can run free while pet parents enjoy the margaritas. BY JORDAN BURNHAM
In a city known for its love of furry friends, a new locale will bring an off-leash alternative to traditional dogfriendly settings in Austin. In spring 2020, twin sisters Laura Landers and Lisa Ladewig, along with Darrell Landers, will open Austin’s first Mutts Canine Cantina, a franchise based out of Dallas. But there’s even more for local pups to yap about: After launching the first Austin location, the sisters will then open two additional canine cantinas in the Austin area in the following two years.
Photos courtesy of Mutts Canine Cantina.
Mutts Canine Cantina is a membership-driven private dog park with a cantina that features a full bar—which serves up its signature Barkarita—as well as offers sandwiches, burgers and snacks. As twins, Ladewig and Landers imagined opening a business together for years. After Landers heard about Mutts in 2018, she immediately called Ladewig to share the unique business concept. “She has a sales and marketing background, and I have a finance and operations background,” Landers says. “When I heard about it, I was like, ‘This is it, Lisa,’ and when I told her, she loved the idea.” In January, the twins’ longtime dream became a reality when they signed on as the first multiunit franchisees of Mutts Canine Cantina. “We’re proud to be women business owners in Austin,” Ladewig says. Mutts members will have access to two off-leash dog parks, one for dogs 30 pounds and lighter, the other for heavier dogs. Ladewig says the off-leash, open space for dogs to frolic and play is a factor that separates Mutts from other dog-focused businesses in Austin. “You have all of the pet-friendly locations, especially in Austin,
where you can bring your dog, but they have to be on a leash and they’re usually tied up and have to be underneath the table. But then there’s Mutts,” she says. Mutts’ environment is akin to a second home, Landers says. When the duo initially visited the original Dallas location, she says everyone she spoke with loved the amicable environment where strangers are only one conversation away from becoming friends. “People feel comfortable coming in and just being themselves and drinking and having entertainment for them and their dog,” she says. “It’s whimsical and fun and fresh.” Along with treats for pet parents, Mutts Canine Cantina will offer “pupsicles,” frozen doggie delicacies made from beef broth, peanut butter and an edible bone. The first Central Texas Mutts Canine Cantina, which is in the final stages of negotiation, will be located in Northwest Austin and will feature a 1.6-acre space for four-legged friends to romp. “We’re excited about being the best part of a dog’s day,” Landers says. Even Austinites who aren’t dog parents are welcome. With a full bar and menu, Mutts’ covered patio offers a spot to relax and observe all the action at the dog park. In addition to the dog park and cantina patio, Landers says the Mutts locations will have a doggie wash station, as well as other surprise amenities to keep pets cool during hot Austin summers. As for the second and third canine cantina locations, Landers says they could be anywhere in the Austin area, including in East Austin or South Austin, or in Georgetown or Round Rock, Texas. “We’re going to actually live our tagline,” Landers says, “which is ‘Come. Sit. Stay.’ ”
58 | AUSTIN WOMAN | OCTOBER 2019
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PAWING AND CLAWING THROUGH CBD OVERLOAD
Here’s what you need to know about pets and CBD.
CBD: Perhaps you’ve noticed those three little letters everywhere lately. From skin care to breakfast cereal, it seems CBD is the ingredient du jour and is being added to almost everything. But there’s good reason why. CBD, or cannabidiol, is one of the active components of cannabis, yet because it is not psychoactive, it doesn’t result in the euphoric effects often associated with ingesting marijuana. However, CBD has been found to alleviate a variety of health ailments. Because CBD is a component found in the cannabis plant, it is often confused with the mind-altering substance THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, which is what causes the “high” from marijuana. While CBD and THC both exist in the marijuana plant, CBD on its own isn’t mindaltering. In addition to marijuana, CBD can also be extracted from marijuana’s close cousin, the hemp plant. The main difference is that hemp contains almost no THC and is harvested, in part, for its health benefits. With CBD’s growing popularity among humans for easing conditions like anxiety and pain, many pet parents are hopping on the CBD bandwagon for their furry family members. If it’s OK for humans, does that mean it’s OK for pets? Once relegated to holistic health-care providers, CBD is skyrocketing in popularity, even in veterinary circles. Dr. Stacy Mozisek, a veterinarian and the medical director at Firehouse Animal Health Center, says there’s a growing curiosity about CBD for pets. “Although I can’t prescribe CBD to my patients, I’m glad they’re discussing it with me,” Mozisek says. “However, it’s not a treatment in and of itself.” Mozisek explains cats and dogs have the same endocannabinoid system as humans. Their bodies have receptors that respond to CBD the same way the human body responds, which is why CBD reacts similarly in both humans and animals. Researchers are studying CBD’s effectiveness for treating such issues like chronic pain, seizures and anxiety in animals. “An arthritis study showed promising results on increased comfort and mobility with the use of CBD,” Mozisek says. “Another study pertaining to seizures in dogs was less profound. However, both studies prompted more research. We expect CBD to become part of our medication toolbox as we gather more data and once there’s more regulation as it pertains to animals.”
Dr. Stacy Mozisek
60 | AUSTIN WOMAN | OCTOBER 2019
There’s currently no regulation on CBD for animals, leaving veterinarians with a looming problem. “Many products are marketed for animal health, and almost none of them have CBD as advertised. That’s not to say reliable products don’t exist, but if people choose to give CBD to their pets, they need to purchase from someplace trustworthy and read labels,” Mozisek cautions. Shayda Torabi, co-founder of Austinbased Restart CBD, shares a similar sentiment. “One of the biggest reasons that Restart exists is because there wasn’t anyone available to translate all the information about CBD,” she says. “People need to trust where they’re getting their CBD from, and that’s why in addition to our online presence, we have a brick-and-mortar store.” Restart’s CBD products are extracted from hemp, which means there’s zero to only trace amounts of THC in the company’s products. Torabi explains when purchasing CBD from an unknown source, it’s essential to look at how many milligrams are in the product. If you don’t see the dosage, you’re likely buying a product with a lot of filler. Should you decide to try CBD for your pet, it’s important to know how to administer it and how much to give. “Our human customers usually get their dosage through a dropper under the tongue,” Torabi says. “Since most people would rather not stick their hands in their pet’s mouth, that method doesn’t always translate well for animals. We recommend mixing the CBD oil in their pet’s food, water, or they can offer CBD-infused treats.” The animal’s weight determines the starting dosage. “The thing to understand about CBD is while there’s a minimum starting dosage, the upper limit for what ultimately provides relief doesn’t exist,” Torabi says. “Offer the smallest dosage first and work your way up, with 1 milligram per 10 pounds as a starting baseline.” Unless your pet is extraordinarily talented and can share that he or she is getting relief with CBD, observation will likely be the best indicator of how it’s working. If you’re interested in using CBD to ease pains for a fluffy family member, Mozisek and Torabi note to check with the vet first, read labels and buy from a reliable source.
Photo courtesy of Daniel Crotty Photography.
BY PHAEDRA ROGERS
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Bo Swierc makes a racket with her hatchet at Urban Axes Austin. BY GRETCHEN M. SANDERS
Only recently did the pediatric speech therapist discover she could swing blades with remarkable accuracy. When Urban Axes opened in Austin in September 2017, Swierc’s friend who worked there invited her to test her aim. “I beat everyone in my group of 15 people on my first day,” the 35-year-old Swierc says. “I was a natural.” If raw talent reeled Swierc into a new sport, the camaraderie at Urban Axes has kept her committed. “It’s a wonderfully inclusive community with people of all ages, races, [sexes] and professions,” she says. “Men and women play against each other and compete on an even field.” Swierc has traveled to Canada, where urban ax throwing started, to sharpen her skills. In July, she finished among the top females at the Urban Open in Baltimore, the nation’s largest ax-throwing competition. In August, she won the inaugural Urban Axes women’s tournament in Austin. Now Swierc has her eyes on a narrower target. Ax throwers have the potential to score 81 points in a match with 15 throws. Swierc has posted a personal best of 78 points. “I’ve come close to hitting 81 so many times, and it’s painful,” she says. She won’t stop until she hits that mark. Here’s how this blade ace keeps hitting the bull’s-eye.
THE WORKOUT:
“I throw [axes] three to five times a week at Urban Axes. I’m usually there for an hour if I’m practicing alone and for four hours if I’m playing league. I may throw 100 times on a league night and anywhere from 500 to 800 times when I’m by myself. Every time I throw, I have to walk 15 feet to the target to retrieve my hatchet. I stand the whole time, and I can get sweaty and out of breath. Outside of ax throwing, I run/walk at least once during the week for 45 minutes and for up to two and a half hours on Sunday. I love group exercise classes at Orangetheory, CrossFit and Camp Gladiator, and I lift an Olympic-style weight bar at home periodically. You don’t have to be strong to throw an ax. It’s technical and very mental. The key is getting out of your head. You want to be in a flow state, on autopilot.” THE DIET:
“I follow a paleo-ish diet: no dairy, light on grains and minimal processed food. I take more vitamins than anyone I know: vitamin D, magnesium, Mushroom Immune Defense and adrenal-support supplements. I eat lots of boiled eggs, and I have a chocolate Garden of Life Sport protein shake midday that I mix with cold almond milk. I try to cook most of my meals at home, and I drink plenty of water.” THE GEAR:
“I have 12 13-inch hatchets and two 28-inch Agdor axes, which is a Swedish brand. I bought my first hatchet at Lowe’s for $25. Now I buy my hatchets online and have someone local cut them to size and polish the metal blades to make them sharp and competition-ready. They cost about $80. Hatchets break. If I’m playing league, one will last about six months. I use my big ax to break ties during matches. It cost $130, but it has never broken.” THE MOTIVATION:
“Throwing axes is a stress reliever. It’s repetitive. I can zone out, calm down and think matters through. I love that I compete on the same level as the guys.”
THE A.M.:
THE MINDSET:
“I prefer to wake up to African gospel music than to a buzzer. I get up around 6 a.m. and do stretches on a mat that I keep on the floor next to my bed. I loosen my arms, legs, hips and lower back. Then I make decaf coffee because I’m excitable. I eat breakfast, usually eggs, around 10:30 a.m.”
“Focus on the next throw.”
62 | AUSTIN WOMAN | OCTOBER 2019
THE P.M.:
“Ideally, I go to sleep around midnight. Before bed, I write what I need for the next day on my bathroom mirror with a dry-erase marker, and I try to read about 10 minutes of Tim Ferriss’ Tribe of Mentors.”
Photo by Charles McKeever.
Most Wednesday and Sunday nights, Bo Swierc is slinging hatchets at a bull’s-eye. She has a knack for nailing targets at Urban Axes Austin on Airport Boulevard, where she participates in two ax-throwing leagues and reigns as Austin’s top female competitor.
ATXWOMAN.COM |  63
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OINT OF VIEW
ON THE MONEY
AFFORDING A PET
Don’t let financial strain keep you from the joys of pet parenting. BY JENNY HOFF
1. Adopt from a shelter instead of buying from a breeder. The cost of buying a dog or cat from a breeder is much higher than adopting a furry friend from a shelter. An added bonus: The shelter will provide neutering or spaying services and shots for free, which can save hundreds of dollars. If you’re willing to wait, the Austin Humane Society partners up with KXAN-TV every year for a one-day Clear the Shelters event, through which you can adopt a new buddy at no cost. Austin Pets Alive! also offers discounted adoption days throughout the year. 2. Get creative with boarding options. If you travel often, boarding a pet can get pricey. Consider using the Nextdoor app to find another pet parent in your neighborhood willing to do pet swaps when either of you is out of town. You can also touch base with the adoption agency you used. “Our adopters have a Facebook group where they can share tips, tricks and recommendations with each other,” says Katera Berent, public-relations and events manager for Austin Pets Alive! “Our adopters have also found friends for both themselves and their pets in this group, and we often see them offering up pet-sitting services, just out of the goodness of their hearts!” If you are looking for something more official, check out a site like trustedhousesitters.com, which offers a database of reviewed pet sitters. Once you pay the $119 annual fee, you can choose your pet’s perfect sitter, who will come stay at your home (for no added cost) and take care of your little critter while you’re away.
64 | AUSTIN WOMAN | OCTOBER 2019
3. Learn the basics of pet grooming. Grooming can be costly. But by learning the basics yourself at home or spending a fraction of a typical grooming price at a self-service dog wash, you can keep your pet clean on a budget. There are many self-service dog-wash stations throughout the Austin area that you can rent for less than $20—and that price includes towels, shampoo, brushes, the tub and even doggie cologne. “When you take your dog to a self-service wash, you also have the benefit of having professionals around you in case you have questions,” says Edward Flores, owner of Mud Puppies in Austin. “It’s important to remember that the animal will respond to your confidence. The more confidence you have in cutting their nails or cleaning them, the more at ease they will be.” 4. Keep your pet fit and healthy. The biggest cost of having a pet can come in the form of unexpected veterinary visits. That’s why it’s a good idea to have a pet fund set aside in case of a vet emergency. However, you can limit unexpected vet visits by keeping your pet healthy and active while also pet-proofing your home to ensure Spot and Tiger don’t eat something that could make them sick. Diabetes, certain cancers and other health problems in pets can largely be avoided if you keep your critter on a good diet, don’t overdo snacks, keep her active and show her love. It’s a great way to keep humans healthy too. Pets can bring so much love to your life, but they’re also a huge responsibility. By making sure you can afford it, asking the right questions to know what to expect and looking for ways to avoid some of the higher costs of pet parenthood, you can keep your pet—and your finances—as healthy as a horse!
Headshot by Edward Verosky.
There is nothing like coming home to a furry friend who runs to greet you at the door or exploring Austin with a little buddy who is the living embodiment of being in the moment. But having a pet is more similar to raising a child than simply caring for a houseplant. It’s a big responsibility that comes with some unforeseen expenses. According to a study conducted by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, a large percentage of people who rehome their pet do so because of financial stress. That’s not a situation any person—or pet—wants to be in. There are many things to consider before bringing a pet home, including financial concerns. Here are some ways you can save a little money while still saving a life.
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TA ILG ATE IN ST Y L E BY CHELSEA BANCROFT
It’s no secret: University of Texas football rules fall Saturdays in Austin. More women are getting into the game. In fact, 45 percent of the NFL viewing audience is women, and more than 17 million women are playing fantasy football now. Here are some tips for how to throw an awesome tailgate party this football season.
Get your vehicle ready.
Keep the weather in mind.
Clean out your car beforehand to make sure you have enough room for all your tailgating supplies. Consider covering your car’s seats with washable covers, towels or blankets for the big day so you can avoid any unfortunate spills or stains. A tarp is a great option for the trunk if you’re going to be serving food from there. Make sure you have jumper cables and a spare-tire kit, just in case.
It may be October, but this is Texas, and it is still hot. Bring some fans to keep your guests cool. If there’s rain in the forecast, be sure to pack a tent and ample ponchos and umbrellas. Most importantly, have a great time. If you are going to be drinking, plan ahead and have a designated driver. Hook ’em, Horns!
Show your pride. You wear your team’s colors, and so should your vehicle! Show your team pride by decking out your vehicle with your team’s flags, bumper stickers or even a customized license plate. Flags or balloons can also help your friends find you in a sea of other tailgaters.
Prep food ahead of time. Try to prep as much of the food ahead of time as you can, including chopping, marinating and precooking whatever can be reheated. If you’re planning to get out there early (which you should), consider prepping and packing as much food as you can the night before tailgating.
Don’t forget the essentials. Be sure to have plenty of all the tailgating essentials on game day: food, drinks, trash bags, tables, chairs, utensils for cooking, koozies, plates and eating utensils, toilet paper/paper towels, a bottle opener, a first-aid kit, foil, coolers, cleanup products, extension cords, phone chargers, sun block and bug repellent, etc.
Organize your gear. Packing all your gear in clear drawers is the best way to organize your tailgating essentials. Since the drawers are clear, you’ll be able to easily find everything. Tool boxes are a great option for keeping your grilling tools organized.
Photo by RJ Gilliam.
Check out the big game in style. Portable satellite receivers and antennas allow you to watch the game right from your tailgate location. You can purchase tow-hitch accessories that allow you to mount a TV, so bring that big screen along and cheer on your team from the comfort of your tailgating spot. If you’re going to listen to the game on the radio instead, opt for a great speaker system. Chelsea Bancroft is the strategic-partnerships and social-media manager at Roger Beasley Mazda and a blogger at onechelofanadventure.com.
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OINT OF VIEW
ASK LUCY
DOGGIE STYLE
Lucy chases down some local businesses that feature fashionable finery for pooches. BY LUCY J. PHILLIPS Dear Lucy,
Thanks for providing #stylegoals for us Austin pups. You always know just what to wear. My human, jeweler Nina Berenato, was recently on the cover of Austin Woman, and since the photo shoot, she’s been dressing up a little more and having fun with her personal style. As her loyal sidekick, I’m ready to step up my wardrobe too. A little about me: I’m a curvy girl—and lovin’ it! My favorite song is “Soulmate” by Lizzo. I love the outdoors but Netflix marathons are my guilty pleasure. My current style is pretty basic: I wear an ombre leather collar, sometimes a bandana. It’s cute, but I want my style to reflect my personality. I need my outfits to be sassy but functional; I can’t be slowed down when chasing squirrels or burying bones. What do you suggest? Love, Sunshine the sassy Dear Sunshine,
As for fashion, it’s a good thing I’m not a cattle dog because the only thing I’m rounding up are style tips. Since I was already 45 pounds when I was adopted at 4 months old, my human saw I was going to be a pretty thick gal. Accessories tell people that I am, in fact, a lady. They also attract a little extra attention, which l tolerate. Tracing my style evolution, my first iconic look was an understated holly bandana I wore at Christmastime 2014. The material came from Michaels and told the world I’m festive, practical and chic. So, my first tip is to decide what statement you want to make. Whether that’s sporting a DIY look or local brands, decide what paw print you most want to leave in people’s minds. (You’ll also find fashion paw prints are more appreciated than muddy ones.) If you want to say, “I’m sophisticated, socially conscious and I support local brands,” then check out Boots & Arrow. After adopting her dog from a local rescue organization, Austinite Kristin Moses designed these one-of-a-kind leather collars from upcycled cowboy boots, donating $5 from each purchase to rescue pups in need. Her shop also features screen-printed Westernstyle bandanas and the most stylish poop-bag holders you’ve ever seen. Custom designed with canvas fabric, each holder features antique brass hardware and reclaimed cowboy-boot leather. They’re so elegant, you’d barely know they hide bags that pick up our business. If Texas pride really gets your tail wagging, you will drool over Texas Humor’s new line of pet products. The homegrown brand began as Jay B. Sauceda’s Twitter account in 2011, growing from funny Texas tweets to cool printed T-shirts and hats. Launched in September, Texas Humor’s pet collection includes collars, bandanas, bow ties and even dog hats. It’s all designed for pets to show off our Lone Star pride!
I sniffed out Texas Humor’s Allison Sanders to dig up more details. Starting as an intern designing Texan memes in 2015, Sanders now wears several (Texas-themed) hats in her role as Texas Humor’s site manager. “One of my favorite things is writing the product descriptions,” says Sanders, who is also mom to pit bull Sophie. “Our inspiration behind the new line was each having our own dogs and living in a dog-centric city. I loved combining our Texas jokes with dog puns, like [with] the Yee-Paw bandana.” Choosing between the dapper bow ties, bluebonnet bandanas and yellow-rose collar is almost impossible, but my personal favorite is the Texas Paw bandana. Only my hunt for the perfect squirrel has lasted longer than my search for a flag bandana that won’t bunch around my neck rolls, hiding the Lone Star, which is sacrilege, if you ask me! In lieu of a star, the Texas Humor design features a white paw print surrounded by blue. And it was specifically designed for doggo necks, so I can finally bear the flag that makes my seventh-generation Texan human so proud. So, whether you want to rock some hip cowboy boots in the upcycled form of a fetching collar or are more about showing off your Lone Star pride, these two local brands have got you covered as you embrace your own style evolution. You’ll definitely fall in (puppy) love with them. Happy styling! Love and slobbery kisses,
Lucy
If you have a dog-related question for Lucy, reach out and follow her on Instagram @asklucydog. 66 | AUSTIN WOMAN | OCTOBER 2019
Top photo courtesy of Nina Berenato. Bottom photo courtesy of Hannah J. Phillips.
Thank you for noticing my style! I do enjoy expressing myself through an extensive collection of accessories, so I always appreciate when someone notices. Like Lizzo, I regularly catch my reflection in the mirror and think, “Damn, she the one.” (On that note, I saw the singer wearing your mom’s jewelry on Instagram. You must be so proud!)
Previous page: Boots & Arrow dog-poop-bag holders This page, clockwise from above: Texas Humor Bluebonnet bandana, Texas Humor Blue Texas dog hat, Texas Humor Yee-Paw bandana, Boots & Arrow vintage bandana, Texas Humor Yee-Paw collar
ATXWOMAN.COM |  67
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OINT OF VIEW
I AM AUSTIN WOMAN
WORKING WONDERS
With the support of the Austin community and a fierce love for her cherished pup, Wondercide’s Stephanie Boone created safe and effective pest protection for pets and families. Tank, who invited us on the show. While devastated by her loss, I knew it was the right thing to do. The show is watched by millions and would help us educate families. What many don’t know is that I was five months pregnant and only had a few weeks to prepare for the filming. I was grieving the loss of Luna, pregnant with my first child at age 39 and the CEO of a rapidly growing company. Still, nothing was going to stop this mom on a mission. I never intended to be an entrepreneur, and my background certainly didn’t prepare me for running a complex company. I had to learn how to build a supply chain, manufacturing facility and an e-commerce site (10 years ago, y’all!). I had no experience with chemistry, product development, regulatory compliance or strategic business planning in my past life. I didn’t even finish college. Then there’s learning how to develop a team, how to lead and I never intended to be inspire, how to grow everything and everyone I’m responsible for. an entrepreneur, and my In this beautiful city of Austin, though, I didn’t background certainly didn’t have to go it alone. It’s a city of freethinkers, doers and progressiveness. It’s a supportive community prepare me for running a for entrepreneurs and women. I was able to attract brilliant advisors who just wanted to see me succomplex company. ceed. Austin is a place of connecting and building each other up. There’s a cooperative nature here that doesn’t exist in the same way anywhere else. It gives me so much strength and gratitude. Doubt still creeps in at times, frustration too, when I think of how many more people we can help but haven’t yet reached. Plus, the guilt of Luna’s suffering is still with me. I wish I had known then what I know now. But as Maya Angelou said, “When you know better, you do better.” That’s in our DNA at Wondercide. What’s next at Wondercide? We’re working on continued efforts to support our customers and educating women so they can make informed decisions for their families. We’re practicing courage versus comfort as we work to disrupt the pest-control industry and usher in a new era of pest protection that is as safe as it is effective for pets, homes and families.
I started researching and learned Luna’s story was not unique. So many animals and humans suffer from pesticide exposure. We put these products on ourselves, our pets and around our homes and lawns, all in an effort to protect the ones we love. Through a process of discovery and ingredient research, I nursed Luna back to health and founded Wondercide. With fierce love and belly fire, I set out to do better. My life’s purpose became clear: create innovate natural pest protection that’s truly safe and equally effective so other families never have to experience the compromise we did. In the early days, my partner and I mixed batches of our spray, bottled it by hand and sold it online. We also sold it at farmers markets and handed out samples to everyone we met. Luna was always by our side and lived to be 16 years old. We had 2,190 more days together. The day she passed away, I got a call from the producers of Shark 68 | AUSTIN WOMAN | OCTOBER 2019
Photo by Kara E. Henderson.
Fierce love is about protecting those you love by any means necessary. That’s how Wondercide started in 2009. With grit, perseverance and intuition, I believed I could save my dog, Luna, an Akita-husky mix. She was suffering from pesticide poisoning caused by commonly prescribed monthly flea-and-tick medication and quarterly pest-control services. The invisible dangers were all around us and we didn’t know better. The devastating side effects included chronic skin issues, liver and kidney failure, and seizures. Several vets recommended I put Luna down, but that was never an option for me. I felt responsible for her suffering and I knew there had to be a better way.
CELEBRATING
90 YEARS OF SPARKLING IN AUSTIN 2900 WEST ANDERSON LN. | 512.452.6491 | BENOLDS.COM
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• SAFETY CAGE - Designed to help protect you every time you’re in your Volvo – whether you’re a man, a woman or a child.
• WHIPLASH PROTECTION - Unique head restraint and seat design to protect both head and spine.
• PROTECTIVE SEATING - The energy-absorbing functionality helps reduce spine injuries.
• DANGER DETECTION - A range of systems that help to mitigate crashes and improve alertness.
VOLVO CARS OF AUSTIN | 7216 N. IH-35 • 866-974-6096 • VOLVOAUSTIN.COM
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“You can always tell about somebody by the way they put their hands on an animal.” –Betty White
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