A 240-acre animal sanctuary in Salem shelters more than 250 dogs, cats, birds and reptiles under the care of Animal Planet alum Lee Asher.

The Asher House Animal Sanctuary, a nonprofit Asher founded, moved from Estacada to Salem around 2022, according to a Press Play Salem profile republished Aug. 31.

Asher told the magazine he chose Salem for easier access to resources and the ability to take in more animals.

The sanctuary's current population tops 250, Newsweek reported in December 2025.

A team of about 50 staff members handles daily feeding, grooming and medication.

The property is surrounded by trees, a pond and several barns. Asher's makeshift office is a bus parked in the middle of it all.

He lives on-site. On any given night, 30 to 60 dogs sleep in his room.

"There is no outside life for me. This is what we do," Asher said in the Fall 2024 Press Play Salem interview.

Before launching the sanctuary, Asher worked in finance. At 27, he quit his job, sold his belongings and bought an RV. He spent about three years touring the country with a small pack of dogs, promoting adoption events at shelters. That work led to the 2022 Animal Planet series My Pack Life, now streaming on discovery+ and Max.

The sanctuary keeps a permanent pack of about 85 dogs. All others are available for adoption through an online application at theasherhouse.com. The operation prioritizes dogs on euthanasia lists and pulls animals from shelters across the country.

Asked what he likes best about Salem, Asher answered without hesitation: the people. He singled out his neighbors and the staff at Marion County Animal Services. In the Fall 2024 interview, Asher said Marion County had been supportive, allowing the sanctuary to build and grow as needed. He said the operation had exceeded his expectations for growth in a short time.

Asher's long-term vision is to open more sanctuaries and reduce reliance on traditional shelters nationwide. He believes operations like his can ease the strain on overcrowded facilities by showing that dogs of different sizes and breeds can live together under the right leadership.

Residents interested in adopting can browse available dogs at theasherhouse.com, where the list is updated regularly. The Asher House is a registered nonprofit funded by donations.