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Petting Zoos
How petting zoos impact animals
“We have this fundamental responsibility to not take advantage of animals who have no control over whether or not they live with humans.”~ Ren Hurst
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Petting zoos claim to provide a meaningful opportunity for children and adults to interact with animals and establish meaningful connections and educational opportunities, but is this the case?
Children have a natural affinity for animals, and this should be fostered through thoughtful experiences that teach meaningful lessons.
Fast Facts
Insufficient standards
UNREGULATED & UNPROTECTED
Young animals are by their nature vulnerable and typically rely on a parent to provide protection, food and comfort. They require higher care and attention than adult animals, especially when separated from their parents. Petting zoos almost exclusively use young and extremely vulnerable animals separated from their parents. Despite this, most Australian states have no mandatory standards to safeguard animals used in petting zoos.
Petting zoos routinely transport animals to and from different events and establish housing areas in unfamiliar environments where the animals remain for extended periods. It is common for different animals to be housed together, such as chickens, rabbits, lambs and even calves. Events can be noisy, and supervision of handling and interaction is often insufficient or unsatisfactory.
For states with standards of care, these often fall way short of protecting animals or are not complied with. In NSW, standards require that "an animal must be given shelter from loud noise". At fairs, agricultural shows, shopping centres or parties (the typical places that petting zoos operate) it is impossible to shelter animals from the loud noises, particularly where children are present. The NSW standards also fail to outline basic things such as minimum space requirements for the animals.
From the breeding, home housing, transport, exhibition display and disposal, animals used in petting zoos have no protection from standards of care in most states of the country, and those with standards fall well short of providing real protection.
Perpetual Breeding
CYCLE OF SUFFERING
Petting zoos rely on a constant supply of young, cute baby animals for their business model.
Animals are often bred by the petting zoos themselves, once again in unregulated housing and conditions.
Once the young animals grow, they are replaced with the next round of babies. Some may replace their parents as breeding animals; others may be slaughtered or sold to homes with uncertain fates.
The constant breeding cycle exacerbates the issue of unwanted animals seeking homes.
Extended state of stress
SEPARATED AND EXPOSED
It is almost impossible for animals used in petting zoos to avoid stress. Most animals used in petting zoos are exposed to stressful conditions routinely.
The species of animals used in petting zoos, lambs, goat kids, calves, chickens and rabbits, all rely on being with a group of their own kind for security. Taken from their mother's protection, they are transported to unfamiliar locations where they can face hours of constant interaction with strangers.
Being picked up or handled can be stressful to these animals; rather than being something they naturally enjoy, it is something they need to be exposed to early on and repeatedly to overcome their natural fear.
In some states, there are no restrictions on the length of time animals can be displayed for interaction, and in those that do have regulations, such as NSW, they still allow animals to be exhibited continuously for 14 days. While the animals should be taken to an off-display establishment at night, carers can apply for an exemption. There is no limit to the maximum time animals can be displayed daily.
This leaves the vulnerable baby animals at risk of increased stress due to being separated from their mothers, at an even greater risk of experiencing a state of high stress, sometimes for several days if not weeks.
Transport Trauma
INCREASED AND INHERENT STRESS
Transport can be stressful to animals for a number of reasons. The Standards for Exhibiting Animals at Mobile Establishments in New South Wales highlights that:
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Animals are susceptible to injury or the exacerbation of sub-clinical infection during loading, handling and transportation. These problems often arise due to cumulative stresses.
Common stressors include:
• unusual yarding and handling;
• deprivation of food and water;
• changes in climatic conditions;
• overcrowding or isolation, unfamiliar surroundings, noises and sensations;
• inappropriate care during road transportation; and
• physiological responses associated with pregnancy and lactation.
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While these are listed in the standards as common stressors to try to reduce or minimise them where possible, the reality remains that the model of petting zoos that transport vulnerable baby animals to various sites and locations is that these will always form a part of the experience for the animals.
Cute has an age limit
CYCLE OF SUFFERING
Petting zoos typically rely on having a constant supply of cute baby animals. Baby animals are a big drawcard for the public; they are easier to handle and transport than larger adult animals.
As these babies grow, they may start expressing their opinion about being handled, resisting interacting and becoming more difficult to transport.
To avoid these issues, petting zoos constantly replace their animals, discarding the older animals at sale yards, selling them online or slaughtering them on site.
What lessons are learnt?
ALL THE WRONG LESSONS
Petting zoos claim to provide a meaningful opportunity for children and adults to interact with animals and establish meaningful connections and educational opportunities, but is this the case?
Children have a natural affinity for animals, and this should be fostered through thoughtful experiences that teach meaningful lessons and build empathy and respect for animals.
Instead of learning that animals are unique individuals who deserve our respect and compassion, petting zoos perpetuate the notion that animals exist solely for our purposes. Humans can breed them into existence to cuddle them while they are babies and discard them afterwards. The conditions that animals experience during their interactions with us and their life after interacting with us is of little concern.
Rather than observing baby animals being cared for by their mothers, they are treated as little more than cute objects to be handled. Their needs for comfort, protection and their parents' love come second to our need to interact with them.
Teach Kind
Lessons that build empathy and compassion
In a world where our affection for animals and the desire to teach our children kindness can lead us to petting zoos, it's essential to take a closer look. While these places may appear to offer opportunities for empathy and understanding, the reality is far more complex. Petting zoos contribute to overbreeding, the confinement of animals, stress, fear, and the disposability of living beings once they've served their purpose.
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Instead, let's embrace a different approach—Teach Kindness. Instead of visiting a petting zoo, consider connecting with your local sanctuary. Here, you can interact with rescued animals in a more respectful manner. At sanctuaries, animals reside in familiar groups, in their homes, eliminating the stress of constant transportation. Sanctuary programs should focus on the animals' needs and desires, allowing them to choose when and how they engage. Most importantly, sanctuaries show animals from a perspective that highlights what's important to them, rather than merely how humans use them. By choosing this path, we reinforce the value of respecting and understanding animals, and promote a world where they are not seen as disposable commodities.
Kinder Options
Sanctuaries
At refuges like Little Oak Sanctuary, programs for kids are framed around empathy.
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In programs like The Compassionate Classroom, kids learn about what matters to animals and how their choices can be kind to them.
Just like us, animals are all individuals and some are more outgoing than others. Rather than forcing animals to interact, animal residents at animal sanctuaries can choose to interact with guests, or to avoid them. Interactions are not forced or coerced with food.
This is important not only to the animals, but it teaches kids that interacting with others is a two-way street, our desire to show an animal our affection might not be what that animal is comfortable with, and it's ok for them to express that.
Helping at
Shelters
Another way to interact with animals in a way that teaches compassion is to contact your local shelters and see if they require volunteers, or if they have a kids program.
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Helping out animals in need is a great way to give back to the community and has the added benefit of teaching kids some great lessons about how the animals we bring into the world require our care, for life.