From page 39
visitors arrive and curtailing
unruly children whose parents
rely on titbits to entice the
think their chasing and
animals forward. This can
harassing animals is cute.
lead to livestock, particularly
ponies, snatching at the food Running a petting farm is not
and bullying each other to get for the faint of heart.
Children should be taught
at it, and that's not a good
about the sharp biting end
experience for the children.
and the blunt kicking end of
K Safety. You and your
employees must be willing to horses, ponies and donkeys,
act assertively to protect your the sideways and backwards
kicking of cattle, the head
animals at all times. This
butting of all stock, and the
means laying down rules as
Mother’s Wisdom: “It’s all fun and games till somebody loses an eye...”
BUSINESS
of 1962) and the Performing
standing on feet.
It's all too easy for accidents
to happen, particularly when
the sudden movements and
squeals of excitement from
excited young visitors can
make even the quietest farm
pets edgy.
K Insurance Which brings us
to the question of insurance
cover. Running a petting farm
on your premises means you
must carry adequate business
insurance, covering public
liability and ensuring that your
animals are also insured.
You need to check what the
law states in terms of running
such an enterprise. Before
doing anything else, check
into licenses and permits you
might need to operate a
petting farm. If you plan to
feature exotic species, special
permits are sure to apply.
The care of animals in South
Africa is regulated by two Acts
– namely the Animals
Protection Act, 1962 (Act 71
41
www.sasmallholder.co.za
Animals Protection
Amendment Bill, 2015. The
municipal bylaws also govern
the conditions under which
farm animals may be kept.
A petting farm should be
safely enclosed with a
network of fences and gates
to prevent animal escapes
and to protect the animals
from the visitors. Areas that
are off limits to the public
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