Who Are Urban Animals?

Dr. Erin Homburg



Upon graduation from veterinary school, Erin's first associate veterinarian position was at Dowlen Road Veterinary Center in Beaumont, Texas. Dr. Kelley Kays taught her the majority of her management and business skills in that position. Erin and her husband, Dale, moved to Austin, Texas, a year later. She worked for Dr. Benet Sandell at Hill Country Veteirnary Hospital for about a year. Erin, having not quite found her niche in the Austin veterinary industry, did some relief veterinary work for about 2 months after leaving Hill Country Vet and found a more permanent position at Northwest Austin Veterinary Center in Austin. She maintained an associate position there for 7 years. While she was practicing at Northwest Austin, she and Dale had a son, Gavin Aubrey Homburg. About two years after he was born, she left Northwest Austin Veterinary Center to pursue a buy in opportunity at Brykerwood Veterinary Clinic in 2007. Dr. Greg Biehle hired Erin as an associate with a buy-in/buy-out opportunity and in December, 2008, priorities changed when Greg found a building in downtown Austin and approached Erin about placing a veterinary hospital in the building. The building was 12000 square feet, and Erin knew exactly what she had in mind. Today, Greg and Erin's Austin Urban Veterinary Center concept is coming to fruition. The center includes a 4000 square foot state of the art veterinary hospital, Upper Paw Urban Pet Resort (boarding suites for dogs and cats), doggie playcare, Lofty Dog Boutique retail and pet sitting services, Groovy Dog Bakery, and Dirty Dog Self Dog wash and Grooming.

Dr. Greg Biehle



Greg Biehle has owned Brykerwood Veterinary Clinic in Austin, Texas, for almost 30 years. of his word and thrives on the relationships he builds and keeps with his clients and patients.  Greg is thrilled to have found the location for his new venture with Dr. Erin Homburg at Austin Urban Veterinary Center in downtown Austin.  He is really looking forward to this partnership and pioneering a new concept for the downtown residents.  The more relationships to build, the better!  He has four wonderful children and is a family man at heart.  He enjoys the charity work he does through Brykerwood including years of in kind services to Central Texas SPCA.  He has also done a weekly local FOX News “Ask the Vet” spot on Thursday mornings for many years for the community.  In his spare time he loves to retreat to his family farm, tending to his cows and relaxing on the front porch of the cabin. 

Becky Perez (practice manager)


Originally from El Paso, Texas, Becky moved to San Marcos in 2003. After beginning her education at the University of Texas at El Paso, she received her B.S. in Animal Science from Texas State University-San Marcos. Becky began her veterinary experience with large animals and eventually found her niche in the small animal practice. She shares her home with her cat Sam. She has a genuine love for her chosen career and hopes to instill that passion in those she works with.


The Rest of the Staff


Beth Brown, Upper Paw Urban Pet Resort Manager
Claire Dunn, Drew Williams, Clint Bertran, Meredith Beckman, Cindy Flannery, Mary Hale


The Major Players

Kim Hall, the effervescing owner of Groovy Dog Bakery began her career in another dog eat dog world of broadcast animation. She has over 20 years of experience and five Emmy's from that lifetime. She brings the same professionalism, excellence & artistry to the bakery. Aisha, her Biscuit Queen first wagged into Kim's life 11 years ago an she still manages the store. Her little brother, Kayin joined the family six years later. He is the Commander of Woof in charge of greeting all visitors and sampling new recipes. They maintain Boxers are the best, but Kim and her pack at Groovy Dog make every dog feel very special. Also an accomplished horse woman, Kim supports local animal shelters and rescue efforts. The products are human grade and all natural. Stop by the new location and paws in front of the treats counter. If you don't see what you want, Kim can bake you up a Pu-pu platter, a Happy Barkday cake or an I Wuf U bar. No bones about it, Kim Hall and Groovy Dog Bakery are the best all around.
Find out more at their website Here


once upon a time... only kidding! the idea for this crazy place came from Sam and Ollie (we'll get back to that in a minute). The two of us, Blair and Alesha, moved to Austin the summer of 2003. We grew up in Dallas and have been best friends for 20+ years.  We moved here on a whim. At the time, we were living in Phoenix, found ourselves both single at the same time, and wanted somewhere cooler (temp) and cooler (more fun) to live. Anyway we picked Austin because it's the greatest place on earth and because it's closer to our families. So happily living in Austin, we realized that we needed jobs. That's when Sam and Ollie came to our aid. Sam and Ollie are Blair's 2 long haired 12-year-old dogs (or children, if you will). They needed bath's and short summer hair do's. Blair called around and found out it would be over $100 to get them both done. If she could do it herself she would.....LIGHT BULB! So that's how Dirty Dog came to be.
Find out more at their website Here



“A Uniquely Austin Pet Experience” 
Since its inception in 2007, Lofty Dog has become Austin’s favorite pet boutique with a Rock n Roll feel.  Located in the heart of downtown Austin, in what was the legendary music club, Liberty Lunch, and across the street from Austin City Limits, this locally owned and operated pet boutique prides itself on providing personalized customer service, premium pet foods, locally made goods, unique and modern pet products, pet care services, and lots of doggie fun!   
Not just a pet store, Lofty Dog has created a community by incorporating monthly events and frequent fund raising activities, such as Movies in the Park, Barkitecture, Poochinis & Peticures, Fashound Shows and Rescue Group Meet & Greets.   
Winner of the Austin American Statesman’s A-List “Best Pet Store”, Rare Magazine’s “Rarest Of Them All”, Austin Pet Directory’s “Most Awesome-ist Pet Boutique, and featured in KEYE TV’s “We Are Austin”, Texas Monthly Magazine, Austin Monthly Magazine, Tito’s Vodka (Fashound Show), Dell Lounge, and others.   
Just ask any Downtown dog and they’ll tell you to sniff your way to Lofty Dog!  It’s where all the cool dogs (and cats) go!  We’re THE party pet shop! 
For more information on the history of Liberty Lunch, check out the Dell Lounge Series “Dead Venues” where they filmed a video of Lofty Dog and the band “The Steps” at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvGEssETRo0 
Lofty Dog403 W. 2nd StreetAustin, Texas 78701512-476-5050www.austinloftydog.cominfo@austinloftydog.com 



We believe your pet’s time away from home should be as much like home as possible. We have organized our pet resort and suites to reflect this concept. Each pet will have a cageless environment, with a warm, inviting color scheme and artwork in each suite. Every pet will have a petcot, a comfortable above the floor option for rest times. Webcam access can be available during the day to check on your pet. A movie can be selected for your pet to watch if you choose as well. We will accommodate your pet’s specific feeding, husbandry, and medical needs and make your pet’s stay an unforgettable one.
Find out more at their website Here