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Animal Rescues in Victoria

Victoria is in the western metro out past Chanhassen, and it's home to one of the biggest fenced dog off-leash areas in the Twin Cities.

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Twenty-seven fenced acres in Victoria

The Carver Dog Off-leash Area is 27 completely fenced acres — one of the largest in the Twin Cities, and big enough that it reads more like a walk than a pen. It has a separate fenced section for small and/or frail dogs, which at this scale is a genuine feature rather than a courtesy.

It’s open 5am to 10pm daily, with one standing closure: every Wednesday, 9am to noon, from 1 April to 28 October. A Three Rivers daily or annual pass is required — currently $10 a day or $64 a year, tax included. You have to carry the pass, carry proof of rabies vaccination, and stick to two dogs per handler.

Beyond the fence

The off-leash area sits inside Carver Park Reserve, and the leashed walking there is substantial:

Three Rivers allows dogs on a six-foot, non-retractable leash on paved and turf trails except where noted otherwise. Between that and the off-leash area, one pass covers most of a day.

The reserve also has the Lowry Nature Center — the district calls it the first public nature center built in the Twin Cities — and a small unguarded beach at Lake Auburn Campground, open Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day, 9am to 8pm.

Swimming

The beach is a people beach — Three Rivers’ leash rule and the usual restrictions around swimming areas mean it isn’t a dog swimming spot. If water is the goal, check the district’s current rules first.

And on adopting

Western-metro households can adopt from essentially any Twin Cities rescue regardless of where it’s registered, so treat the whole metro as your range rather than the Carver County line. Browse the full directory or all Minnesota listings. We’re an independent directory with no affiliation to the organizations listed here.

Frequently asked questions

How much does the Carver off-leash area cost?
Three Rivers charges $10 for a daily pass or $64 for an annual, tax included, and a one-time $10 daily-pass credit can go towards the annual. The annual covers every off-leash area in the district, so if you'll use it more than six or seven times it pays for itself. You must carry the pass with you and have proof of rabies vaccination on you.
When is it closed?
Every Wednesday from 9am to noon, 1 April through 28 October, for maintenance. Otherwise it's 5am to 10pm daily. A Wednesday-morning trip is the classic wasted journey here.
Is there somewhere for a small or nervous dog?
Yes — the off-leash area has a separate fenced section for small and/or frail dogs. Across 27 acres that separation matters more than it does in a two-acre park, because the main enclosure is big enough for a lot of fast-moving dogs at once.
Can I walk my dog on the park's regular trails?
Yes, leashed. Three Rivers allows dogs on a six-foot non-retractable leash on paved and turf trails except where noted otherwise. With 9.1 paved miles and 25.7 hiking miles in Carver Park Reserve, that's a lot of walking beyond the fence.

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