Support Us Button Widget
Culture  Arts

Longtime Austin Animal Center pup stars in summer musical

After his stint on the stage, Tajin’s looking for a forever home.

August 6, 2024 • 
Morgan O’Neal
A black and white dog wearing a harness and a leash smiles with his tongue out on stage with a crowd of people on a lawn in the background.

And the crowd goes, “awwww.”

Photo via Austin Animal Center

If you’ve seen the summer musical at Beverly S. Sheffield Zilker Hillside Theater, you’ve already fawned over this furry face — but here’s your official introduction to the four-legged performer.

Tajin plays Rufus in “Legally Blonde the Musical,” Zilker Theatre Productions’ play running through Saturday, Aug. 17. He’s an 8-year-old dog who has been waiting three years at Austin Animal Center for a home.

However, his role alongside Elle Woods isn’t the only title he’s held recently: a group of UT Austin students who fostered him gave him the nickname “Longhorn Party Panda” for his lovable personality.

Adoption fees are currently waived at Austin Animal Center, and there are plenty of charismatic pets looking for their next career move, aka a spot in a stable home.

Learn more about them here.

More from ATXtoday
An elegant spread of vibrant dishes from Ema restaurant, featuring a variety of colorful plates, including salads, roasted vegetables, and entrees artfully arranged on patterned and decorative tableware. The meal includes fresh bread, appetizers, and cocktails, all displayed on a light wood table.
Food
12 restaurant openings to look forward to in 2025
Austin’s food + beverage scene is growing — here are a few new restaurants coming to the Capital City this year.
January 14, 2025
 · 
Morgan O’Neal
Thousands of people gathered at Zilker Park, flying kites, in front of the Austin Skyline.
Events
How to navigate our community events page
Never again wonder how to browse for cool events in our city or how to upload your own.
January 14, 2025
 · 
Sarah Leonhardt
The pink granite dome of Enchanted Rock with rainy clouds overhead and a lake surrounding the rock.
Travel and Outdoors
Land acquisition will double the size of Enchanted Rock
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department purchased a parcel of land adjacent to the park famous for its massive pink granite dome.
January 13, 2025
 · 
Laura Figi
A rendering of a modern community hub featuring a light rail station adjacent to an H-E-B grocery store. The scene includes a paved plaza with people of various ages and backgrounds engaging in activities such as walking, cycling, and sitting at outdoor tables. A sleek light rail train is visible in the background, along with parked cars and lush greenery that frames the area. The architecture of the H-E-B store combines contemporary design with natural materials, creating a welcoming atmosphere. Trees provide shade, contributing to the vibrant, pedestrian-friendly environment.
City
Peek inside the future of light rail in Austin
Austin’s first light rail project is slated to open in 2033, featuring a bridge over Lady Bird Lake and planned connections to the airport.
January 13, 2025
 · 
Laura Figi
Outdoor vintage market stall featuring a mannequin adorned with a straw hat decorated with colorful feathers, a turquoise necklace, and a vibrant patterned shawl. A woman in a white hat and red dress browses the display of eclectic items, including lanterns, brass decor, and textiles. The scene is set under a white tent with a backdrop of trees against a clear blue sky.
Travel and Outdoors
Your guide to Round Top Antiques Shows in 2025
Here’s where to shop for hidden gems, eat fabulous food, and rest your head at these one-of-a-kind festivals in the Texas countryside.
January 10, 2025
 · 
Morgan O’Neal
Three women playing an interactive arcade-style game in a dimly lit room with vibrant neon colors. One woman in the foreground, wearing a red tank top, engages with a console featuring illuminated buttons. A large pixelated LED wall displays colorful patterns, while a timer with '53 seconds' and heart icons are visible on a scoreboard in the background, adding to the dynamic, futuristic atmosphere.
Wellness
Sober-friendly activities in Austin
We’ve found 15+ things to do in ATX that aren’t eating or drinking alcohol.
January 10, 2025
 · 
Morgan O’Neal
ATX_Waterloo_amp_concert
Culture
ATXtoday’s collaborative Austin playlist
Looking to localize your music library? Start with this playlist or add a song or two from your favorite Austin-based artist.
January 9, 2025
 · 
Laura Figi
A small outdoor micro gallery painted light blue with a clear acrylic roof. Inside, miniature colorful artworks are displayed, including illustrations and paintings, with one piece propped on a tiny easel. The setting features greenery and a residential background.
Culture
How to find a Free Little Art Gallery near you
At these 10 miniature art galleries in the Austin area, you can take a piece of art or leave one for your neighbors to love.
January 9, 2025
 · 
Laura Figi
A view of the downtown Austin skyline taken from inside a moving vehicle. The photo shows modern skyscrapers, some under construction with visible cranes, against a backdrop of a cloudy sky. The foreground includes a highway with light traffic, a grassy median, and trees lining the road, capturing a dynamic cityscape.
City
By the numbers: How bad is traffic in Austin?
Austin ranked No. 22 on a new list of the most congested cities in the US.
January 8, 2025
 · 
Morgan O’Neal
An eclectic assortment of items spread out on a white surface, including a copy of 'The Poet's Companion' book, a Prismacolor colored pencil set, rolls of masking and blue painter's tape, a red JBL speaker, an orange glass, a floral-patterned teacup and saucer, a set of small canned goods, a lime squeezer, kitchen tongs, paintbrushes in a pink jar, a small spatula, and a box of Trolls playing cards.
City
Where to donate used items in Austin
Give gently used items a new home and donate to worthy causes in the Capital City.
January 8, 2025
 · 
STAFF