citation_inspection

The owner of the property has Bobcats, cavies, goats, Watusi, Whitetailed deer and a rabbit on exhibit to the public at his amusement facility. Any person operating or intending to operate as a exhibitor, except persons who are exempted from the licensing requirements under paragraph (a)(3) of this section, must have a valid license. A USDA, APHIS, AC license must be obtained to exhibit animals to the public.

The public is allowed to hand feed animals on exhibit including: six goats and a watusi. The public may contact the animals during feeding. Employees or attendants are not present during these times of public contact. One of the rabbits present at the last inspection was seen by the attending veterinarian for a back issue that was causing lameness. The care takers are not aware of how the injury happened because there are no attendants present at times of public contact. Unattended public contact may result in physical injury to the animals by trauma or them eating unapproved items. The animals experience mental harm when they are subject to ignorant and inappropriate human contact. A responsible, knowledgeable, and readily identifiable employee or attendant must be present at all times during public contact.

The two cavy are in an enclosure that does not have a perimeter fence. On or after May 17, 2000, all outdoor housing facilities (i.e., facilities not entirely indoors) must be enclosed by a perimeter fence that is of sufficient height to keep animals and unauthorized persons out. Fences less than 6 feet high for other animals must be approved in writing by the Administrator. The fence must be constructed so that it protects the animals in the facility by restricting animals and unauthorized persons from going through it or under it and having contact with the animals in the facility, and so that it can function as a secondary containment system for the animals in the facility. It must be of sufficient distance from the outside of the primary enclosure to prevent physical contact between animals inside the enclosure and animals or persons outside the perimeter fence. Such fences less than 3 feet in distance from the primary enclosure must be approved in writing by the Administrator. A perimeter fence must be errected around any enclosure housing a wild or exotic animal to act as secondary contaiment and to prevent death of the animal by a predator.