Do You Love Animals As Much As We Do?

Your animal companion can enjoy as desirable a lifestyle as you do when you make your home in the Willamette Valley. The great outdoors beckons for exercise with off-leash parks for your canine friends as well as trails and boarding facilities for your equine ones. There are shops, services and vets to provide for the care and feeding or your pets no matter how exotic plus plenty of friendly neighbors who share your devotion to critters from fish to cats to snakes and beyond.

Dog Parks and Trails

Minto-Brown Island Park
This park offers a designated, unfenced area for dogs to socialize and play off-leash with disposal bags available. The area features a wild section of tall weeds as well as a grassy play area with picnic tables. Dogs must be leashed when outside the off-leash area.

Orchard Heights Park
This park has a small designated area where dogs can play off-leash. Located near the Salem/Keizer border, half the property is open and relatively flat, flanking an orchard that rises up the hillside. Glen Creek meanders through the central portion of the park with oak, alder and cottonwood trees growing along the banks of the stream. Dogs must be leashed when outside the off-leash area.

Bush Pasture Park
This 90-acre park has open meadows shaded by mature trees as well as many fields for playing Frisbee or throwing a ball. There are plenty of trails perfect for walking, jogging or running and dogs are welcome but must be on leash at all times. There are three mutt-mitt dispensers for cleaning up waste.

Oregon Garden
Located on 80 acres in historic Silverton, the Oregon Garden is one of the state's most popular destinations, where thousands of plants are displayed in more than 20 specialty gardens. The Pet Friendly Garden was completed in 2003 where you're welcome to stroll with your pet beside you while admiring dramatic Willamette Valley vistas.

Horseback Riding

Willamette Mission State Park
This 1,680-acre park, just 8 miles from Salem and 7 miles from Keizer, is not only a stunningly beautiful natural environment but it is also one of the most significant historic sites in the Willamette Valley. There are grassy meadows filled with flowers, plants, trees and wildlife plus eight miles of trails along the river for riding. Horse camp facilities include four sites that can accommodate up to two camping units and four pack animals.

Century Farm Equestrian Center
Located in nearby Scio, Century Farm is both a rental and boarding facility. Come ready to saddle up for a guided or solo ride through the surrounding scenic hills.

Dog Training

The Dumb Friends League
Sponsored by the Humane Society of the Willamette Valley, the Dumb Friends League offers dog and puppy training classes several times a week with varying schedules. The Animal Behavior Department also offers monthly "Pet Parenting" classes which provide general information regarding how to live with a pet and problem solving.

Cascade Retriever Kennel
8 miles south of Salem and Keizer, Cascade Kennel features 46 acres customized for dog training. Twenty acres make up seven technical ponds for specialized Retriever training and group classes are focused on obedience training and gun dogs.

Pet Adoption

Humane Society of Willamette Valley
No matter what type of companion animal you seek, the Willamette Valley Humane Society in Salem has loving animals of all shapes and sizes looking for homes. From dogs and puppies to cats and kittens to rabbits and birds, there are even horses looking for homes. A new friend is waiting for you today!

Salem Friends of Felines
Come find a feline friend who desperately wants a home. From kittens to full growns, you're sure to find a kitty that takes your heart away.

Pet Events

Oregon State Fair Livestock Show
Held on the fairgrounds in Salem, the livestock show is the State Fair's most popular attraction. Animals on display include beef and dairy cattle, sheep, goats, hogs, llamas and alpacas.

Oregon State Fair Poultry and Rabbit Exhibit
This irresistible exhibit includes large fowl, bantams, guineas/turkeys, waterfowl, pigeons and doves in both the utility and performing classes. There are also displays of heavy and light-weight rabbits and other small fur animals.

Oregon State Fair Horse Show
The Oregon State Fair Horse Show, housed in the historic Stadium, is one of the biggest this side of the Mississippi. The finest specimens of all the major breeds are on display.

Salem Equestrian Events
10 different equine events take place each year in Salem. Whether it's the Willamette District High School Equestrian Meet to competitions for specific breeds like Arabians or Jumpers, there is an event for every horse lover in the Salem-Keizer area.

Zoos and Petting Zoos

Oregon Zoo
Take a trip around the world at Portland's Oregon Zoo featuring animals from every continent, many of them displayed in environments the evoke their home territories. The exotic bird aviary is extremely impressive while the delightful Oregon natural life exhibit recreates an alpine area of the Cascades with mountain goats, a beaver den and river with frolicking otters.

Oregon State Fair Petting Zoo
The Petting Zoo provides a cast of cute and cuddly animals such as pygmy goats, sheep, potbellied pigs, fawns and others. Be sure to bring your camera because you'll want to get a photo of your own cute and cuddly ones with a Petting Zoo resident.

Veterinarians

Pet Medical Center
Completely renovated in 2001, Pet Medical Center is a state-of-the-art, award-winning facility operated by staff members who are chosen for their love of both pets and their owners. The most up-to-date medical equipment is here putting some human medical facilities to shame including endoscopy, radiology, ultrasound, laser surgery, sevofluorane anesthesia, full blood chemistries and complete dental work stations.

South Salem Veterinary Clinic
South Salem Veterinary Clinic is a complete animal care facility that has been serving Salem for 30 years. Offering extensive general health, laboratory, dental and surgical services for pets, they also carry a complete line of high quality pet food and flea-control products.

Humane Society Find-A-Vet
This is a listing of vets provided by the local humane society.