Get Petting Zoo Waiver

Petting zoos are hotbeds of serious pathogens, including E. coli and salmonella bacteria. Those who come into contact with E. coli can develop bloody diarrhea, anemia, or neurological impairments such as seizures or strokes.

Zoochosis. Many animals held in captivity begin to form abnormal symptoms referred to as “zoochosis”. These neurotic and atypical behaviors occur as a result of boredom, depression, frustration, a lack of mental and physical enrichment, and removal from their natural habitat and social structures.

Most petting zoos are designed to provide only relatively placid, herbivorous domesticated animals, such as sheep, goats, pigs, rabbits or ponies, to feed and interact physically with safety.

A Change In Behavior As an animal's brain changes, so too do their behaviors. The primary change is that animals lose their some of their natural behaviors including food-finding, avoiding predators, and rearing young, and replace them with stereotypic, destructive behaviors brought on by chronic stress and boredom.

It is common for animals, particularly large pigs and cows, to be sent for fattening and slaughter, once the “cuteness factor” declines. Sentient, feeling, thinking, beings are confined and transported long distances only to be chased and touched without any training by random strangers.