Animal lovers and business owners in Wisconsin may have heard about a recent incident at a petting zoo in Shawano in which a 15-year-old girl was bitten by a baby fox. The bite reportedly drew blood, so the fox, which was in a pen at the time of the incident, was euthanized and is being tested for rabies. The girl is being given a rabies vaccine as a precaution.
The owner of the petting zoo claims that the girl, who was visiting with her family from Milwaukee, ignored signs warning against feeding the animals. She also claims that the girl had food in her hand when she reached into the pen and that animals at the petting zoo never have a chance to be exposed to rabies. The petting zoo remains open for business.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Agriculture are reportedly asking questions about the operation of the petting zoo. State agencies are interested in comparing the current conditions of the petting zoo against the city’s zoning variance that allowed the petting zoo to open at its present location 10 years ago. The zoning variance specified no more than eight animals at the zoo and stipulated that none of them could be dangerous or vicious. The petting zoo had 42 animals at last count, including several exotic animals, according to the city’s police chief. The DNR and Department of Agriculture are interested in how the petting zoo acquired the exotic animals as well.
In cases like this involving a State agencies involved after fox bite at Anello’s City might review petting zoo rules”, Tim Ryan, July 26, 2013