Letters July 1, 2009

Wednesday, July 01, 2009

By Planet User

Healthy animals
[JH Weekly received a copy of this letter to the Teton County Fair Board. – eds.]
As a resident of Jackson and an avid fan of the Teton County Fair for over 10 years, I wanted to express my concerns about the petting zoo that was present at last year’s fair, and from what I understand will be the same petting zoo used this year. 
I lived right across the street from the fair grounds last year and witnessed the petting zoo set-up when they arrived.

From what I could see, the petting zoo was beautifully kept. Each morning I witnessed, the animals being taken out of their pens, washed off with a hose and put back in a clean pen. There were also well posted signs offering information and a person there to answer any questions. Initially I was excited to go over and see the animals, but when I took a closer look I became very concerned.

Throughout the week I noticed a goat in particular that was clearly getting sicker and sicker each day in a pen overflowing with goats of all sizes. The woman working did not seem concerned and she told me repeatedly that there wasn’t much more she could do for the animal.

It was never clear what had already been done to help the goat, but it seemed cruel and inappropriate to have a sick or dying goat on display for children to pet.  The next thing I saw that concerned me was a pony that children could sit on and have their photo taken.  When the animal was moved from one spot to the next, you could clearly see that one of its back legs was lame. The pony could barely walk, but it was still working.  As I moved on I saw a display for the “world’s largest pig”. 

The pig was enclosed in a dark make-shift-room with a light hanging above it, and which you had to pay extra to view.  After seeing this, it finally hit me that despite the pleasing and friendly appearance of the petting zoo, this exhibitor was exploiting these animals for money and doing little to foster respect for animals -a stark contradiction to the 4-H kids working so hard to care for their animals just a few hundred yards away in the indoor arena.
It would be nice to think that once the fair was over these animals would go back to a farm where they could live how they were meant to, but I doubt that was the case.  Even if a petting zoo operator has the best of intentions, most traveling animals are hauled around on the fair circuit and endure the rigors and stress of transport in often dark, cramped, and stuffy trucks and trailers.

They often experience temperature extremes and receive little and irregular exercise, in addition to irregular feedings, and watering. There is often no relief when they’re unloaded since they are shuttled from one cage to another.  Following arrival, these animals are subjected to a barrage of handling and human contact, from which they are afforded little reprieve. As soon as one fair is over, animals in a traveling show are packed up like equipment and forced to hit the road again.  In addition, animals in a traveling show are relatively inexpensive to purchase making it easier for exhibitors to not spend money on veterinary care since these animals can be easily replaced. Everyone likes to pet baby animals, but what happens when they grow up and aren’t needed?

I urge the fair board to consider hiring a local petting zoo exhibitor to prevent any undesirable outcomes associated with traveling petting zoos.  The Teton County Fair is visited by thousands of locals and tourists alike and has such a wonderful reputation. We owe it to our community to be the best we can be.  The fair has always been a highlight of the summer for me and I very much appreciate your consideration of this letter.
– Sara Carlson, Jackson
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Letters July 1, 2009 | Planet JH News Article: Letters To Editor

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