 914-763-6925
203-431-8322 |
|
914-763-6925
203-431-8322 |
|
Safety
Insurance
USDA
Certification
Our animals have got to be healthy, gentle, sweet, clean and SAFE -- my kids are with them daily! All of the animals live in our backyard so they are more than just working animals -- they're family!!! We give them respect, love, compassion and kindness and it shows! Our ponies & critters are the healthiest, cleanest and safest available. All animals receive regular vet care and are appropriately vaccinated.
We are the only company in our service territory that we know of that is USDA Certified! All commercial exhibitors of goats, sheep, pigs and rabbits (and certain other animals) are required to be licensed by the United States Department of Agriculture ("USDA") under the Animal Welfare Act (7 U.S.C. 2131, et seq.). WE ARE, BUT MOST ARE NOT! The certification process includes a USDA Inspector's review of all animal health care records and a farm visit to review the living conditions and daily routine care given to the animals. Pied Piper Pony Rides has passed all USDA Inspections! That's because we're always up to date on all animal health care and provide the nicest, cleanest living conditions to be found on any farm! Before you hire any petting zoo company, ALWAYS make sure they are USDA Certified and can prove it -- this protects you, the health & safety of the children, and ensures that you are not supporting farms that provide substandard care for their animals! Thank you to Mid-Hudson Equine Practice, Carmel, NY and South Salem Animal Hospital, South Salem, NY for helping us to take the best care possible of all of our animals!We never compromise on safety!
Cute isn't everything -- safety is! We take every precaution possible to ensure safety is not compromised. All animals and handlers are trained and all equipment is checked before leaving the farm. We've got 18 years of experience so we're confident that our animals, equipment and handlers are the safest.
Unlike other companies that just drag the pony along behind them, our staff always walks next to the pony with one arm within reach of the child. This provides added security for the child and also means that we are interacting with the child during their ride, a detail that ensures a wonderful experience.Care is taken at all times to ensure the safety of both the children and the animals. Staff persons are careful to instruct children on how to proceed near the ponies -- never walk behind them, never offer them food from your hand, etc. They also keep a careful eye on the kids to make sure they're doing alright with the petting zoo critters.
Healthy routines are important - even at parties!
We recommend that you make soap and water available to all at the party after they have finished with the petting zoo or pony rides and before moving on to other activities. We have had this recommendation on our website and contracts for many years -- well before recent news articles about health issues related to petting zoos. Hand washing is the number one way to prevent illness and should be practiced after petting even the family dog! This is the recommendation of state and federal health departments and soap and water are recommended over baby wipes and sanitizing hand gels, though some health departments do recommend gel sanitizers where hand washing is not available. We also recommend that toys and pacifiers be removed from children before they enter the petting zoo or go near the ponies, this ensures that these items stay clean.We are aware of the March 2005 E. Coli outbreak in Florida that may be associated with animal contact (as of today 4/4/05 no conclusive evidence has been released). While many animals carry and shed E.Coli bacteria, cows and calves have greatest ability to spread E. Coli. We do not keep any cows or calves on our property. While there are occasional outbreaks of petting zoo related illnesses, in every single case that we know of, cows or calves have been present. For more information about which animals spread E. Coli please visit the Centers for Disease Control Website about E.Coli and Farm Animals.
The current concern over a worldwide Bird Flu Pandemic is also important to us. Our animals are NEVER in contact with animals from other farms. They leave our farm only to do parties and we do not board or take in other people's animals, not even horses. If you have any concerns about how we handle and house our animals, particularly our chickens and ducks, please give us a call!
We do hundreds of parties every year. In our 18 years of business we have never had a single instance of illness associated with our animals by clients, staff, or our own children! We are confident that your health is not at risk by enjoying the company of our animals!
Every effort is made to ensure the animals living conditions are as clean as possible and that the animals that attend parties are as clean as possible. We are USDA inspected to ensure our animals have the highest standard of living conditions and care. Despite this, we cannot stress enough the importance of hand washing following contact with any animal, anywhere.
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Of course we're insured!
Pied Piper Pony Rides is a reputable, registered New York Corporation and maintains all insurances required by law including full liability coverage for both our pony rides and our petting zoo. Many of our competitors are NOT INSURED for their petting zoos or their ponies. We provide copies of our insurance certificate upon request. Customers, if necessary, can become an additional insured or a co-insured for the day of their event. This service is available free or for a nominal additional charge, depending on the circumstances.
Contact us at
partygals@piedpiperponyrides.com
914-763-6925 or 203-431-8322
Copyright
Pied Piper Pony Rides Ltd 2002, 2003, 2004.
