Am I wrong? County Fair Animal Question

[scarter]

Why would you have animals that are known biters, kickers and spitters at a fair? That's poor management especially for a kiddie barn. Llamas should NEVER spit at people. If they do then they shouldn't be around people that aren't trained to work with them period. There is something wrong with them if they do that. This is an interesting conversation. Our fair is such a nice fair I guess compared to others. Our kids really work with the animals and are super friendly when it comes to other people knowing about their animals and the interest it generates. I never knew there was another thought out there besides the basic safety stuff. I guess at our fair people really take pride in their animals and want to show them off to others. When we had to man the poultry/rabbit barn our two year old sat in her stroller with our frizzle/cochin and people really LOVED it. So many people took her picture and said they thought the chicken was her stuffed animal until it moved. She brought a lot of excitement to the barn. Might I add he was Grand Champion!

I have to add that No I don't think you are wrong. Everyone has their opinions.

 

[ksacres]

It was never a big deal at our fair either. Everyone worked really hard to get their animals used to noise/running/spook-provoking things. That's part of the project.

Of course, it's still never a good idea to pet someone's animal when they aren't there. And parents should TRY to control their children.

 

[sparkles2307]

Quote:
LOL I wish so badly that I could just SAY that to so many people... if my kids are out of hand we leave, they lose the chance to have fun and I save myself the risk of some meddler scolding me for my disciplinary beliefs!

 

[Camelot Farms]

Quote:
Exactly. You made contact with the owners or had some information about the animals, which is what I said below.

"Anyways...no. I dont let my kids touch animals at the fair unless the animal owner is there and we have permission. And the owner is standing right there with the animal"

People who think all animals are safe/tame all the time in every situation are a liability to the animal and the owners. I am just wishing 'people' would be more careful.

I think its great that you are willing to share your Llama's with folks.

 

[Wolf-Kim]

Sorry but I was one of those city-slicker kids growing up. The fair was the only time I got that animal interaction I craved so much, so yes when I went to the fair, I tried to touch, scratch, pet as many of those animals as I could before I went back to my home in a subdivision with only a couple of dogs. LOL We would usually go to the North Carolina state fair, I imagine it's a larger fair. The animals that we weren't "suppose" to touch were always roped off and had someone standing there shooing people away and there was "Careful I bite" posters on the paneling. LOL

Now that I have animals of my own, I can see why animal handlers would be "perturbed", but having grown up in those homes I understand the need for the little ones to have that most memorable and exciting experience of touching the animals you couldn't have yourself at the fair.

-Kim

 

[saddina]

In our fair, there's a petting pen of smaller animals (goats, sheeps piglets, etc) that the kids can go into to pet, and the rest of the animals are supposed to be no-petting.

 

[Rhett&SarahsMom]

at work at a place that is basically a farm animal petting zoo.
We have rules. We have nice animals that are handled by people(farmers) from birth on. They grow up being used to screaming running tail pulling climbing kids. But it never ceases to amaze me how the parents leave any parenting skills they may have had, in their cars in the parking lot.

As far as at a fair goes. Most of those animals are also used to being handled and the kids etc. They start showing and being handled young. But people still tend to forget. Or plainly just do not know. That horses etc can be/are dangerous animals. So they need to be told(kindly but with conviction) or reminded.

My biggest peeve are people that take horses or other animals that THEY have a hard time controlling to these types of events.

 

[Blackbird]

MOST people aren't bringing their animals to the fair because they're 'friendly'. Its mainly for the expirience and showing, competition, and accomplishment. A lot of people are going to bring a good quality animal whether or not it likes to be petted. Several animals are also leased out, so I don't think thats poor managment at all. That is why animals are in fences and pens.

Like Gudrin, the children's barn at our fair is run by FFA and also has signs. Animals at the children's barn usually aren't being shown, however, it only makes sense that they would need to be friendly, which is usually expected in that barn. Our children's barn also always has a supervisor to answer questions, talk about the animals, etc. Children's barn = learning. All other barns are off bet. If the 4-h kid is there to let you pet the animal and teach you a little, then thats their choice. If you pet their animals and you get killed.. well, sorry!

That said, I love it when people show an interest in my animals and ask to pet them. But like I always say when people ask, especially about my goats.. if it has a mouth, it CAN bite. Will it? Probably not, but you never know. I usually let them pet the friendliest of the bunch anyway, but goats love nibbling and tasting everything.

 

[shelleyd2008]

The county fair where I grew up would post signs on the stalls if the animals were known biters. In other words, it was okay, almost expected, that the animals would be petted a lot. The people that didn't want their animals (horses mostly) messed with would just keep the stall door top closed.

Then of course, there were the other barns that had signs posted that none of the animals were to be touched.

 

[gudrin]

Quote:
Your town is only about half an hour from the fair I was talking about! Could we be talking about the same one?