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CORVALLIS - The 11th annual Pet Day and Open House will be held Saturday, May 2, at Oregon State University, offering area residents virtually every pet activity possible - from dogs herding sheep to people petting snakes, milking goats and show ju mping with horses.

The annual, family-oriented event is sponsored by the OSU College of Veterinary Medicine and usually attracts 4,000 or more visitors.

It will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., rain or shine, at Magruder Hall on the OSU campus, 30th and Washington Street. Families are encouraged to bring their pets, on a leash. There is no admission fee, but some events and activities have small partici pation fees.

Pet Day is designed to familiarize Oregon residents with the research, teaching and statewide service programs offered by the OSU College of Veterinary Medicine, provide animal education and family entertainment, and expose students to the potential fo r careers in veterinary medicine.

Events will kick off with a 5K Fun Run or Walk at 9 a.m., open to anyone with or without pets. It costs $5 and entrants will receive a T-shirt. As with most pet day events, prizes will be awarded.

Other events include:

• A dog obedience trial, dog agility contest, sheep-herding, therapy dog and police dog demonstration;
• Petting zoo, exotic animal displays, demonstrations of cow milking, show jumping, and wagon rides drawn by Belgian draft horses;
• Collaboration with the OSU College of Pharmacy, which will hold its own "Fun Run" at 9:30 a.m. to raise funds for children who need bone marrow transplants, and also staff safety-related information booths;
• Cow chip bingo contest, cute pet trick competition with your pets, pet photo contest with your photos, animal frisbee catch contest in which the animal gets to keep the disc;
• Booths operated by Brad's World of Reptiles, the Chintimini Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, Greyhound Pets of America, Heartland Humane Society, and 4-H Guide Dog;
• Free guided tours of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital and an "Ask-A Vet" booth in which veterinary faculty will answer animal health and care questions;
• For younger visitors, complimentary teddy bear surgeries performed on torn or tattered stuffed animals by veterinary students in full operating room regalia;
• A dog wash, at a cost of $4, which includes a brief health check of the pet;
• Games and food booths.