Responsibility

Petting Zoo Responsibilities

Our first responsibility is for the safety of our animals and our visitors. Everything we do is based on this.

We will setup and take down the zoo on time as best as we can. We usually arrive 30 to 60 minutes before the scheduled start of the zoo to allow this to happen. However, animals are finicky, and traffic or vehicle/trailer problems can occur. (If you require us there earlier, it will be an additional $25 per hour.)

As a rule, we don't specifically guarantee that any one of the animals will be at a zoo. These are living creatures and they get sick, injured, moody, and simply worn out depending on the heat, cold, and other events we've got scheduled. We have multiple mini horses, mini donkeys, goats, sheep, and most every zoo includes those animals (depending on booking size and temperatures), but the pigs and alpaca can't be guaranteed. The potbellied pigs and/or Alpaca may be included depending on the size of the zoo contracted and the outside temperatures. If there is an animal you're interested in, we can do our best to try to bring them.

All the animals we bring are checked annually by a vet and vaccinated against all diseases common to the area. We will not bring a sick animal to the zoo. However, animals can carry germs that can make people sick, so it’s important that everyone is diligent about hand washing and/or sanitizing before and after petting the animals. We will provide plenty of hand sanitizer for everyone. Also, no food, drink, strollers, pacifiers, kid’s toys, smoking, etc. are allowed in the animal area to prevent the transmission of germs. Everyone must wear shoes in the animal areas.

We will do our best to clean up after the animals as quickly as possible. If we miss some droppings, please let us know so we can take care of it.

The animals we will bring are farm animals and live outdoors. They will act naturally at a petting zoo, which sometimes means digging – especially the pigs. We will attempt to minimize any impact to the grounds.

Client Responsibilities

Please have the remaining 50% of payment available when we arrive. As stated on the booking form, we require a 50% deposit on all events. Payments made after the day of the event must be approved in advance or a 20% late fee will be applied.

Please let us know where the petting zoo will be located on the property as soon as we arrive, so we can start setting up right away. We don’t want to leave the animals in the hot trailer any longer than is necessary. Our preference is to setup directly adjacent to the truck and trailer. This makes for the quickest setup & teardown and the least stress on the animals and workers. If we will not be setup direct adjacent to the truck and trailer, make sure we know that before we arrive, so we can plan according.

Failure to disclose a distant location (i.e. a back yard) prior to arrival may result in an additional $100 hauling charge and likely a late start due to the additional setup time required. There is space on the booking form to indicate the setup location.

Allow us time to setup the zoo before kids arrive or are let into the zoo area. We will handle setup on our own and will not need assistance. We have a system with lots of work that needs to be done, and we can’t be watching kids and setting up at the same time. Plus, the animals need time to settle in after a long trailer ride.

Signs will be posted with the rules for interacting with the animals. Please help encourage the guests to follow those posted rules. Any guests not following the rules will be asked to leave the petting zoo area.

SHOES MUST BE WORN IN THE ANIMAL AREAS. This is a major concern if kids are running back and forth to bouncy houses. It is especially important for infants and toddlers who like to put their toes in their mouths, but anyone could step in something brown and squishy on the ground if they get to it before we do.

Animals may explore with their mouths. They normally do not bite, but may chew on clothes, shoes, fingers, etc. if allowed to contact their mouths. Parents should be careful to keep their children’s fingers away from the mouths of the animals and not to allow the animals to chew.

WH Petting Zoo Inc.