AUSTIN, Texas -- Austin's no-kill status is having an economic impact, and companies are noticing.

An independent study by the University of Denver found the city's pro-pet policies bring in $157 million to the local economy. Animal advocates say this is a reflection of the values of today's workforce.

"People now more than ever are selecting the city in which they want to live first and finding employment second, whereas throughout history it’s been go wherever the job is," said Mary Heerwald of Austin Pets Alive!. "That amount has been poured back into the community through the work of no-kill, which is just phenomenal."

Twenty years ago, she said only 15 percent of the city's stray animals were adopted out of the shelter. Now, that number's 96 percent with some months exceeding a 99-percent live outcome rate. Austin's been above 90 percent since 2011 and is the largest no-kill city in the country.

"We have figured it out here, so take what we know and implement it into your own community," Heerwald said, encouraging other parts of the country to adopt Austin's no-kill model.

More than half of Austinites rent, and animal advocates say there's still work to be done on apartment and condo pet policies. Most complexes still enforce breed restrictions, but some accept animals based on behavior.

"We really understand the relationship between people and their pets, and breed is not a necessary determinant of behavior," said Mariana Estrada of Roscoe Properties.

Estrada said Roscoe Properties implemented its behavior policy in lieu of breed restrictions several years ago. She said it's now become a key attraction for potential tenants.

"People, we find, have heard of us through a friend, through a rescue organization, through an animal foundation, through their groomer who knows about Roscoe Properties and knows that they are very pet friendly," Estrada said.