When Chelsea Phillips launched Tiny Tails to You, a mobile petting zoo for pint-size animals, she had no idea how popular it would be. What started out in 2010 as a weekend side hustle with a few chicks and bunnies soon became a full-time job.

Tiny Tails now brings creatures to events, schools and businesses all across Central Texas with the support of a team of animal caretakers and educators, including Phillips' husband, Joe Moore.



From Smokey the chinchilla to Waffles the bearded dragon, Phillips said kids love spending time with Tiny Tails' animals and learning more about them—as do adults, who often participate in the business's Hoppy Hour events.

Listen to the Sept. 30 episode of The Austin Breakdown podcast to learn more about how Tiny Tails to You works to spread the joy of animals around Central Texas and how Austin has fostered a unique environment for such a unique business to thrive.