Petting zoos can be dangerous to children's health. Children can get E Coli from the animals. That's why the Pennsylvania legislature is considering a bill that would create new rules for petting zoos. She survived, but suffers from a series of long-term health problems. Dennis Buterbaugh went On Your Side to find out what parents can do.
Health practitioners say hand washing is key.
After hearing about the Montgomery County incident, the owners of the petting zoo at the Oley Turnpike Dairy installed a hand-washing station. We wanted to protect the children. The state Department of Health says parents should tell their children before getting to the zoo not to put their hands in their mouth, and parents should tell kids not to eat when they're around the animals. Say you have popcorn or something of that nature. McGarvey says that parents should bring small groups of kids to the petting zoo.