Are Petting Zoos Safe for Our Children?
Posted: Saturday, April 25, 2009
by Sandra E. Graham
My Books and Articles
Most, if not all, children love animals and I'm sure most of us have taken our children and grandchildren to a Petting Zoo at some time or other. It can be an entertaining and educational event for a child. But with all the stories of Swine Flu virus topping the news, I can't help but wonder just how safe are our Petting Zoos?
Over the years there have been numerous accounts of serious illnesses associated with petting zoo animals and other displays where children come in direct contact with animals. It has been reported that fifty one people in the year 2000, became ill after petting or touching animals at a farm exhibition in Pennsylvania-sixteen required hospitalization. In 1999 Ontario , Canada it was reported that 159 people came down with diarrhea after petting goats in a Petting Zoo.
This doesn't mean that you should never take your child to a Petting Zoo or Fair where they can pet the animals. The key is Hand Washing. Most Petting Zoos and exhibits now have hand washing stations in strategic locations around the area. Last year I accompanied my grandson's pre-school class to Pumpkin Patch Hollow, a petting zoo and farm exhibition outside our town. The first thing I noticed was the row of hand washing stations, in-miniature, just right for little people to scrub their hands after petting the animals. According to the Department of Public Health, hands should be washed for at least twenty seconds with warm soapy water. Take care to clean around and under fingernails. This is a good practice to teach all children. The schools teach preschoolers to sing Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star to ensure that they are washing long enough.
I was also gratified to see a certification by the USDA hanging on the wall in the store/office. This verified that the animals were healthy and well cared for. But even so, germs can still be spread from animals to children no matter how healthy the animal is. Very young children should not be allowed to carry bottles, pacifiers, toys, or anything into the petting area that they might drop or pass on germs from their hands to their mouths. Try to keep children from touching their faces and mouths after petting or touching the animals.
And again, I must stress the importance of hand washing. Whether you plan to visit a petting zoo or just out and about in the general public, wash your hands often and well.
With all the germs and viruses spreading so easily, it is best to be safe rather than sorry.
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Top-level comments on this article: (4 total)Great article, I have a small son that I take to the zoos and petting zoos often. It is good to know there are some out there that care about the safety of our kids.S. from RussellvilleThanks for reading and commenting, Sheri. Take special care of that little boy.Sandra
Good article, Sandra. I'm surprised the kids weren't instructed to wash their hands before petting the animals so they wouldn't transmit bacteria to them. Sounds strange, I know, but I have heard of that happening. (the hand washing, not the bacteria) I look forward to taking my grandson to a petting zoo someday. What a fun memory!I hadn't thought of that, but no, they weren't told to wash their hands before petting the animals--that's a thought--thanks for reading and sharing.Sandra
Great article. Well done.I was shocked at the statistic. I at first thought this would be like the old tea-cosy death stories but it seems far more of a problem.Thanks, Connor. I think Petting Zoos have made some good changes since so many children were becoming sick.Hopefully, there will be a new vaccine found soon for this new epidemic of swine flu.Sandra
Do you think that maybe the problem is that we have become too estranged from our animal friends, to the point that we are no longer immune to what they can pass on. I was raised on a small farm, around cows, chickens, pigs and we would catch tadpoles, frogs and any other little creature that got in our way. I don't remember ever getting sick, except for one time getting "ring-worm" from our cat.Maybe we should all get back to nature more often.
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