The Highest Quality, Award Winning
Educational Animal Attractions
The Great American Animal Entertainment Company® has provided the finest, high quality, petting farms to fairs, festivals, and stock shows since 1984. We recognize the growing concern over E. coli 0157:H7 and other enteric animal diseases that can be transmitted to humans, and have been staying ahead of this issue for more than forty years. That is one of the many reasons we are the number one petting farm provider in the United States.
We are working pro-actively on this issue to educate the public and ensure their safety. We have been following the same stringent cleaning and sanitization procedures since the founding of our company.
What is E. coli?
The bacteria named E. coli is a normal inhabitant of the intestines of all animals, including humans. The presence of E. coli and other kinds of bacteria within our intestines are necessary for us to develop and operate properly.
E. coli bacteria are everywhere in the environment, and since they are such a common occupant of all animals including people, anytime we eat something, drink something, or touch our hands to something that is either a part of or has been near where animals and people have been, there is always the potential to ingest these bacteria. A minority of E. coli strains are capable of causing human illness. E. coli 0157:H7 is a rare variety of E. coli that produces large quantities of potent toxins that cause severe damage to the lining of the intestine.
E. coli 0157:H7 was first recognized as a pathogen in 1982 during an outbreak investigation of hemorrhagic colitis. It was not until 1993, after a large multi state E. coli 0157 outbreak linked to under cooked ground beef patties sold by a fast-food restaurant chain, that E. coli 0157 become broadly recognized as an enteric disease. Since then it is estimated that there are over 70,000 cases of illness caused by this bacteria each year in the United States.
Almost all cases of E. coli 0157:H7 illnesses are associated with ingesting contaminated food or drink.
Dear Great American Entertainment Co...
Your petting zoo is the best ever. I went to the one in Orange County (Southern CA.). I could have spent the entire day there. Got some excellent pictures.
One genius goat was just waiting by the food dispensing machine. When people put money in, he pushed them out of the way and ate the pellets right out of the machine. A much smaller goat could never reach where the pellets came out so he was standing on top of the hay to get the sympathy vote.
I was especially impressed with the variety of animals. I had never seen where children (and adults) were also allowed to brush them.
I hope you come again every year. I will be there. I will plan it so that I can spend at least 1 hour there. Had a great time. Your animals are clearly well taken care of.
Sincerely,
Dr. Patty Boge (veterinarian)