Recommendations for Proper Operation of

Petting Zoos or Animal Exhibits

A number of zoonotic diseases can be transmitted from infected animals to humans. These diseases include, but are not limited to: E. coli, Campylobacter enteritis, rabies, cryptosporidiosis, and salmonellosis.

The recommendations outlined in this fact sheet are intended to help reduce the risk of disease transmission from animals to humans at venues where people may come into contact with animals, such as petting zoos, county fairs and farm tours.

Persons at high risk for serious infections should observe heightened precautions. Persons at high risk include the elderly, children under five, pregnant women, and immuno-comprised persons. Adults should closely supervise children under five years of age.
 

Recommendations for the General Public

• Avoid hand-to-mouth activities, such as eating, drinking, smoking, and carrying toys and pacifiers, while visiting animal displays.

• Wash hands with soap and warm, running water after touching animals and before eating.

• Hand sanitizers may be used in areas without running water; however, their efficacy has not been determined for these settings. Baby wipes should not be used since they do not kill germs.

• Do not drink unpasteurized milk if it is offered.

• Do not place a soother or pacifier back into a child’s mouth if it is dropped.

• Visit a doctor if you develop unusual symptoms or become ill.

Recommendations for the Organizer

Providing Information

• Inform all visitors of the risk if you are providing access to farm animals. This means posting signs or flyers about methods of prevention and the transmission risk from farm animals. You may use this document for that purpose.

• Provide signs in obvious locations that direct visitors to hand washing facilities before they enter and leave the animal display area.
   

 Hand-washing Stations

• Ensure a hand washing station is located immediately adjacent to the petting zoo area. The unit should be equipped with liquid soap, running water and disposable paper towels. It is preferable to have several hand washing stations at various locations throughout the animal exhibit if it is a large area.

• Ensure that hand washing stations and/or washrooms are kept clean and fully stocked with liquid soap, running water and disposable paper towels.

• Stands with hand sanitizers may be used in areas without running water; however, their efficacy has not been determined for these settings. Baby wipes are not an accepted sanitizing agent.
   

Set-up and Operation

• Do not display ill animals or those known to be positive for any disease agents.

• Locate the petting zoo area away from the food preparation/serving area.

• If animal births occur, ensure that the public has absolutely no contact with the animals or the environment. The environment must be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized after each birth and all waste products discarded appropriately.

• Maintain a first-aid kit on-site in case of accidental scratching or biting incidents and notify Public Health of any such incidents.
   

Sanitation

• Ensure the rails and floors in the petting zoo are cleaned and sanitized at least once daily.

• Ensure any manure is quickly and thoroughly cleaned up and discarded appropriately.

• Ensure that signage clearly indicates which animals can and cannot be touched.

• Ensure barriers are adequate to impede touching of animals that should not be touched.
   

Un-pasteurized Milk and Feeding of the Animals

• If animals on display are being milked, do not offer this milk for sale. It is illegal to offer unpasteurized milk for sale according to Ontario law.

• Ensure that animal feed is not stored in food containers meant for human foods or human consumption.
   

Administration

• It is required, in the event of an outbreak investigation by the Grey Bruce Health Unit, to have the contact names and telephone numbers of the animal owners on display.

Adapted from the Middlesex-London Health Unit

“An E. coli O 157: H 7 Outbreak”, December 1999 and U. S. Centre for Disease Control