Dogs and cats are obviously adorable, but how often do you get the chance to pet a camel?
If befriending as many animals as possible is your life’s dream, be sure to check out Oregon State University’s Pet Day on May 2, where in addition to the camel meet-and-greet, there will be llamas, a petting zoo with goats, OSU Dairy Center calves to admire, rescued wild animals from Chintimini Wildlife Center and household pets galore.
Pet Day is an annual fundraiser organized by the first- and second-year classes of the Gary R. Carlson, MD, College of Veterinary Medicine. Veterinary students operate the popular “teddy bear surgery” tent for kids’ stuffed animals and give tours throughout the day of the Lois Bates Acheson Veterinary Teaching Hospital.
Money raised during Pet Day goes toward paying for graduation regalia and other associated costs for the two classes who organize and volunteer at the event.
“We are excited to connect with the community, share our love for veterinary medicine, showcase a variety of vendors and fund-raise in the process,” said second-year student Kayla Wagner, one of the lead organizers. “We hope this will be a day of hands-on fun with a variety of activities and a behind-the-scenes look at what veterinary medicine is all about.”
New this year is a merch shop with Pet Day t-shirts in blue and orange. There’s also a Pet Day baby onesie. There will be a limited number of shirts available for purchase at the event.
Pet Day 2026 will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 2, in the area surrounding Magruder Hall, 700 SW 30th St. in Corvallis.
Activities this year:
- Purina 5K Fun Run at 9 a.m., with a new route past the Irish Bend Covered Bridge. Registration is $20 in advance or $25 day-of; leashed pets welcome and costumes encouraged. Runners must fill out a waiver beforehand to participate.
- Picasso Puppy art station, where dog owners choose colored paints to go on a paper sealed inside a plastic baggie. The outside of the bag is then coated with sprayable cheese, which the dog licks, moving paint around inside the plastic to create a painting.
- Pet costume contest, with check-in from 10 a.m. to noon and judging from 12:30-2 p.m. Registration is $3 per individual entry or $5 for a team of two or more.
- Cat photo contest with categories “Best Loaf,” “Most Creative,” “Most Mischievous,” “Biscuit Factory Employee of the Month” and “Most Unflattering.” Submit photos here ahead of time to be voted on during Pet Day; winners will be featured on the college’s Instagram.
- Teddy bear surgery, where students patch up stuffed animals with injuries.
- Kids Zone with a small fee to play.
- Dog agility course for owners to put their dogs through a workout.
- Hospital tours throughout the day.
Leashed pets are welcome at Pet Day, though they are not permitted inside Magruder per university policy and must be attended by their owners at all times.
By Molly Rosbach
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