Planning a road trip with your best friend this summer? You might want to take a look at Dog Fancy (now called Dogster) magazine’s most recent list of the top dog-friendly cities in the U.S. Every year, the magazine asks its readers to nominate their pick for most dog-friendly city. Criteria include the presence of dog-friendly businesses, parks, activities, veterinarians, and dog-related legislation and rescue efforts.

Austin, Texas was the winner of DogTown USA 2014, largely because of its progressive rescue and adoption programs. Austin saves the lives of an amazing 90% of all animals that enter shelters, making it the city with the most successful no-kill initiative.

Austin also has as many as 12 off-leash parks, and lots of pet-friendly trails, many of which include spots for doggy swims. Hundreds of shops and restaurants welcome dogs, and dogs are also welcome at Austin’s popular outdoor events and music festivals.

The other cities that made the list are:

• Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
• Eureka Springs, Arkansas
• Charleston, South Carolina
• Minneapolis, Minnesota

For more information on Austin’s commitment to being a dog-friendly city, click HERE.