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Animal Rescues in Cottage Grove

Cottage Grove is in the southeast metro, south of Woodbury along the Mississippi, and its off-leash park is run by a volunteer association rather than the parks department.

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WAG Farms, and the park that isn't off-leash

WAG Farms Dog Park is the off-leash park here. The city describes fencing arranged so large and small dogs can be separated, across a site with woodlands, grasslands and a pond, plus trails and undeveloped natural areas — which makes it more of a walk than a bare paddock.

It’s run by the CG WAG Farms Dog Park Association, a volunteer group, as part of the city’s park system. The rules the city publishes are short: full control of your dog at all times, a leash required for any dog that won’t respond to verbal commands, and you pick up and bin the mess.

Acreage, hours and fees aren’t published on the city’s page — check with the city or the association before you go if any of those matter.

The park that looks off-leash and isn’t

Cottage Grove Ravine Regional Park is 515 acres of hills, wooded ravines, a small lake and miles of groomed cross-country ski trails — the city notes it’s predominantly a buried glacial tunnel valley formed during the Wisconsin ice age, which is a nice thing to know while you’re walking through it.

It is not an off-leash area, despite being described that way on some listing sites. It’s a Washington County regional park, it needs a vehicle park permit, and county rules across most of its parks confine dogs to parking areas and summer trails while keeping them out of campsites, swim beach areas, picnic areas and the water’s edge.

So: WAG Farms to let a dog run, the Ravine for a long leashed walk with a permit on the dashboard. Don’t swap them round.

On adopting here

Cottage Grove sits near Woodbury, Hastings, Saint Paul Park and Inver Grove Heights, and metro rescues adopt across all of it regardless of where they’re registered. Browse the full directory or all Minnesota listings. We’re an independent directory, unaffiliated with the organizations listed here — confirm details with them, and check the park pages linked above before relying on a rule.

Frequently asked questions

Is Cottage Grove Ravine Regional Park an off-leash area?
No, and you'll see it described that way in places. Neither the city's nor the county's page for it mentions an off-leash area — it's a 515-acre Washington County regional park with a small lake and groomed ski trails, and county rules generally confine dogs to parking areas and summer trails while barring them from swim beaches, picnic areas and the water's edge. It also needs a vehicle park permit.
Who runs WAG Farms?
The CG WAG Farms Dog Park Association, a volunteer group, operates it, and the city lists it as part of the municipal park system. That's why it has a slightly different feel from a parks-department facility — and why volunteering or donating is a real way to keep it going.
Are the dog park's hours published?
Hours, acreage and fees aren't on the city's page. Check the WAG Farms listing or the association before you set off if timing matters.

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