08/31/2026
We have seen the news involving a mobile petting farm in North Carolina and several baby goats that contracted rabies, and we know it may leave families with questions about petting farms and the animals they interact with.
So we want to talk about it.
First — rabies in goats is UNCOMMON. Goats are not a primary carrier of rabies. Wildlife such as bats, raccoons, skunks and foxes account for the overwhelming majority of reported rabies cases in the United States.
There is also currently no USDA-approved rabies vaccine specifically licensed for goats. Rabies vaccination in goats is considered extra-label use and is something that should be discussed with a veterinarian.
Here in Maryland, petting-farm animals are required to be vaccinated against rabies when an approved vaccine exists for that species.
OUR ANIMALS receive routine veterinary care, and the animals we take into public settings are examined and maintained according to Maryland's animal-health requirements.
But vaccines and paperwork are only part of keeping animals and people safe.
***Knowing when NOT to take an animal into public is just as important.***
According to North Carolina health officials, the goats involved in the recent incident were most likely exposed after a skunk entered their pen.
If we discovered a skunk — or another high-risk rabies animal — inside one of our livestock pens, those animals would NOT be loaded on our trailer and taken to a public event.
We would immediately involve our veterinarian and the appropriate animal-health officials, follow their recommendations, and those animals would stay home IN QUARINTINE until we knew it was safe for them to return to public interaction.
PERIOD.
Missing an event, canceling a booking or disappointing someone is inconvenient.
Potentially putting the health of a child, an elderly person, one of our customers, our animals or another person's animals at risk is unacceptable.
We also want families to understand something important about rabies exposure.
Simply touching or petting an animal with rabies does not, by itself, mean you have been exposed to rabies. Rabies is primarily transmitted when infected saliva enters the body through a bite, an open wound or contact with mucous membranes such as the eyes, nose or mouth.
And this is exactly why we are constantly reminding everyone:
SANITIZE AND WASH YOUR HANDS AFTER INTERACTING WITH ANIMALS.
That isn't just something petting farms say because it sounds good.
Animals can carry germs even when they look completely healthy. After visiting ANY petting farm, livestock show, fair, farm or animal exhibit, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and running water as soon as possible.
Hand sanitizer is a useful additional precaution when soap and water aren't immediately available, but hand sanitizer does not replace proper handwashing.
Especially with children — please make sure those little hands get washed before eating, drinking or touching their faces.
We have spent 14 years bringing our animals into schools, fairs, festivals, birthday parties, senior facilities and community events. With that comes a responsibility we take very seriously.
🐄 Veterinary care matters. 🐑 Vaccinations when approved for the species matter. 🐐 Understanding the limitations of available vaccines matters. 🦨 Wildlife exposure matters. 🧼 Handwashing and sanitation matter. 📋 Following Maryland animal-health requirements matters. ❤️
BUT MOST OF ALL.... Knowing when an animal needs to STAY HOME matters.
The safety of our animals and the public will ALWAYS come before a booking or a paycheck.
That's how we operate Look Pretty Play Dirty Mobile Petting Farm.
We bring the farm to you — and we take the responsibility that comes with that seriously.
We want to say THANK YOU to everyone that has supported us these last 14 years. And we want to make sure everyone knows where we stand on this unfortunate situation.
