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FOR YOUR PET

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STAYING HEALTHY

STAYING HEALTHY

GREEN SPACES FOR DOGS —

There are eight off-leash dog parks in the Bozeman area. All leash-free parks are closed between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m.

Burke Park

Off South Church Avenue near downtown Bozeman, this is one of the most popular in town. Also known as Peets Hill, the 41-acre park consists of a trail that connects to the Main Street to the Mountains system. The park offers beautiful 360-degree views of the mountains surrounding the Gallatin Valley. Lewis And Bark Dog Park

At Bozeman Pond, this park is fenced and enclosed on the west side of the pond near Gallatin Valley Mall and allows dogs to swim. The entrance to the park is off South Fowler Avenue.

The Highland Park Dog Park

Adjacent to the Softball Complex on the southwest side. The entrance is off Haggerty Lane. The dog park is enclosed and includes a dog station for waste disposal.

Gallatin County Regional Park

In west Bozeman this park includes a variety of amenities like a pond, a jungle gym for kids and a separate, enclosed dog park. The park can be accessed from street parking on Ferguson Avenue.

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An off-leash, unfenced dog park between downtown and Montana State University. The park is full of picnic tables, benches, beautiful trees and is accessible from 8th Avenue.

Centennial Park

Off of North Tracy Avenue and West Cottonwood Street dogs can be off-leash only in the mornings from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m.

West Paw Dog Park

Bozeman’s newest enclosed dog park at Story Mill Community Park. The one-acre park was made possible with a donation from West Paw, a pet product manufacturer in town. The park is accessible from Story Mill Road.

Snowfill Recreation Area

A 38-acre open space, formerly part of the city’s landfill, that now serves as one of the area largest and most scenic off-leash dog parks. The hilly site has over 2 miles of gravel trails with views overlooking the Gallatin Valley. A north-facing hill is a popular sledding hill in the winter. The park is accessible off McIllhattan Road. The City Has Also Designated Several Dog-Free Parks:

Glen Lake Rotary Park, Bronken Fields, all playgrounds, cemeteries, beaches except where designated, ice rinks, sports fields and Story Mill Park Nature Sanctuary are all dog free parks.

LEASH LAWS AND PET LICENSING —

Leashes are required for dogs and cats in city limits, and letting an animal run free could land the owner a fine. Animals are not allowed to be tied up and left unattended in town. The city also requires that dogs and cats older than six months living within city limits be licensed. To get a license, an owner needs to present proof of a rabies vaccination and can pay a reduced fee if the animal has been spayed or neutered. Pet licenses can be purchased at City Hall on Rouse Avenue. If an owner has three or more cats, or three or more dogs they must apply separately at City Hall for a kennel license, which costs $50 annually. Urban chickens are also allowed for a small fee, although roosters are not permitted. There is a $25 onetime permit fee for one to six hens and a $50 one-time permit fee with inspection for seven to 15 hens. There are multiple pet stores in town, including chains Petco and Petsmart. Local options include Bridger Animal Nutrition and Dee-O-Gee. Bozeman’s newest addition, The Viv, opened in 2021 and offers exotic pets and pet supplies.

ADOPT —

There are several places to adopt your next furry friend.

Heart Of The Valley

For those who are looking for a pet, or are looking for somewhere to volunteer, Heart of the Valley Animal Shelter is the answer. The private, nonprofit shelter cares for an average of 3,900 cats and dogs annually. The shelter also offers educational programs for children, training classes for dogs, behavioral consultations, micro-chipping, ID tags and no cost spay and neutering for feral cats. In addition to having volunteers to help with tasks at the shelter, Heart of the Valley also runs a foster program that places animals temporarily in homes for at least two weeks. The shelter is located at 1549 E. Cameron Bridge Road and can be reached at 406-3889399, or heartofthevalleyshelter.org.

Stafford Animal Shelter

Although in Livingston, many Bozeman residents take the trip over the hill to find their newest addition to the family. The nonprofit animal shelter is the only care facility in Park County and serves much of the southwest Montana region including Sweet Grass, Stillwater, Meagher and Fergus counties. Along with cats and dogs, the shelter has a “zoo” where it cares for a wide variety of animals including exotic pets, birds to small mammals. The shelter is at 3 Business Park Rd., in Livingston, and can be reached at 406-222-2111, or staffordanimalshelter.org.

Cat Show Cat Cafe

Montana’s first cat café opened in Bozeman in 2020 and aims to pair adoptable kitties with their forever home. Working with Heart of the Valley, the not-forprofit Cat Show Cat Café acts as a foster home for adoptable cats while offering a more laid-back place to work and play with the cats. Reservations are required. The café also recently began hosting “meowvie nights,” which screens movies upstairs among the cats. 730 Boardwalk Ave., 406-551-2274, catshowcatcafe. com.

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