Petting Zoo Rules

Supervision

• Petting zoos differ on how close they allow visitors to come to the animals. Some require children and adults to pet and feed the animals from the other side of a fence; other zoos open the gate and allow visitors inside. Young children often must be accompanied by a parent or guardian who is responsible for their conduct around the animals. A petting zoo employee typically must also be present to ensure that all other rules are being followed and no one treats the animals roughly. Some zoos limit the number of people who can be in or near a pen at one time.

Hand Washing

• Proper sanitary precautions are an important part of petting zoo rules. Germs can be spread from animals to humans and the reverse, so children and adults should wash their hands regularly when around the animals. Petting zoos have hand washing stations outside exhibits and areas with hand sanitizers. Hands should be washed after touching or feeding animals, and after coming into contact with animal bedding or fence posts and gate handles. Sanitation is crucial because not all animals show outward signs of germs they could be carrying. E. coli and salmonella are two such illnesses that can be present in areas with animals and can spread to humans.

Food

• Even when following proper hand washing procedures, it is important to separate the animal areas from areas that contain food for human consumption. This includes kitchens and dining areas. Human food should not be given to the animals, for the animals' safety and to prevent contamination of the food when animals lick or taste it. The food preparation and consumption areas should be cleaned and sanitized regularly, and the raw ingredients for any human food should be kept separate from the animal feed to prevent cross-contamination. Before visitors enter the food areas, they should wash their hands or use hand sanitizer.

Interaction Guidelines

• Zoos allow different levels of interaction between visitors and animals. Visitors should always feed animals in accordance with the zoo's guidelines, and children should always be gentle when petting the animals. They should not be allowed to yell, run, jump or try to chase the animals, to prevent the possibility of scaring animals and causing accidents. Bites or nips should be reported to employees immediately, and scratches -- even those from fencing or equipment -- should be disinfected and treated immediately. If children are allowed to hold small animals such as rabbits, they should be instructed how to do so.