Animal Experiences - Health and Safety & Waiver

Health & Safety Letter

Keeping yourself safe on an Animal Experience at
Hobbledown


Applicable for:
African Species (6+)
Carnivore Combo (10+)
Primate Experience (10+)
Monkey Armadillo (8+)
Meet the Lemurs (6+)
Meet the Tortoises (5+)
Meet the Small Furries (3+)
Feed the Meerkats (6+)
Face Your Fears (6+)


Note: Experiences have age restrictions for H&S purposes. Please ensure the experience you are booking is suitable for the age of the participant.


During your experience you will be coming into direct contact with animals in their environment. It is essential that you fully understand the risks of zoonotic disease, and how you keep yourself and others safe.

Animals can carry harmful germs that can spread to people and cause illness – these are known as zoonotic diseases or zoonoses. Zoonotic diseases are caused by harmful germs like viruses, bacterial, parasites, and fungi. These germs can cause many different types of
illnesses in people and animals, ranging from mild to serious illness and even death.

Animals can sometimes appear healthy even when they are carrying germs that can make people sick, depending on the zoonotic disease, so we always have to assume that all animals carry a zoonotic disease.
Below you will find more detailed information about zoonotic diseases and how to stay safe during your experience. You will also find the systems we have in place to keep you safe.


How do germs spread between animals and people?

Because of the close contact between yourself and the animals during your experience it is important to be aware of the common ways people can be infected with germs that can cause zoonotic diseases. These can include:

  • Direct contact: Coming into contact with the saliva, mucous, blood, urine, faeces, or other bodily fluids of an infected animal. Examples include petting or touching animals, bites or scratches, respiratory aerosol or handling whole prey during food preparation or feeding of meat or meat products
  • Indirect contact: Coming into contact with areas where animals live and roam, or objects and or surfaces that have been contaminated with germs. Examples include aquarium tank water, chicken coops, barns, plans, and soil, as well as pet food and
    water dishes.
  • Vector-borne: Being bitten by a tick, or an insect like a mosquito or a flea.
  • Foodborne: Eating or drinking something unsafe, such as unpasteurized (raw) milk, undercooked meat or eggs, or raw fruits and vegetables that are contaminated with feaces from an infected animal.
  • Waterborne: Drinking or coming in contact with water that has been contaminated with feaces from an infected animal.
  • Airborne: Inhaling or breathing in of organisms that have been aerosolized from dried faeces or respiratory tract secretions of infected animals such as birds carrying psittacosis.

Sources of contamination during your experience
- Bedding
- Urine or other bodily fluids
- Faeces
- Animal feed including hay/straw, fresh feed and dry feed.
- Water


Who is at a higher risk of serious illness from zoonotic diseases?

Anyone can get sick from a zoonotic disease, including healthy people. However, some people are more at risk than others and should take steps to protect themselves or family members. These people are more likely than others to get really sick, and even die, from infection with certain diseases.

These groups of people include:

  • Children under the age of 5
  • Adults over the age of 65
  • People with weakened immune systems
  • Pregnant women

If any of the above apply to you then you may be unable to take part in the experience. If in doubt, please contact us to discuss your situation.


Vaccinations

Where possible vaccination is an ideal course to take in preventing the contraction of certain diseases. To take part in an experience you should ideally have current vaccinations up to
date of the following:

  • Hepatitis A and B
  • Polio
  • Tetanus
  • Typhoid
  • Tuberculosis
  • Measles, Mumps and Rubella

 

Hygiene

Thoughout the site there is a plentiful provision of hand washing facilities, these include antibacterial soap, warm running water and either paper towels or hand dryer to dry your hands.

You must wash your hands:

  • After your experiences and removing your gloves.
  • Whenever your hands become dirty.
  • Before going into guest areas such as the food and beverage areas
  • Before eating, drinking, smoking / vaping
  • Before and after using the toilet
  • If you have removed the wellington boots provided to you for the experience.
  • Before leaving site.

This is not an exhaustive list of times that you must wash your hands.
If in doubt, wash your hands.

You may be asked to wear vinyl gloves for the duration of the experience, but this does detract from the importance of washing your hands.


Why must you wash your hands?

The most effective method of removing dirt and contamination remains hand washing with soap and running hot and cold, or warm water followed by hand drying.

Cleansing wipes or antibacterial gels are not an acceptable substitute for proper hand washing because they will not be effective against some zoonotic diseases.

Hand washing prevents the spread of disease to yourself and to others and mitigates the risk of cross-contamination.

 

Clothing

You will be provided with Wellington boots for the experience which will need to be returned at the end of the experience.

If you intend to stay after your experience and enjoy our soft play and outdoor play areas, you must bring a change of clothes and put the clothes you wore during your experience into a Hobbledown Heath pull-string rucksack which will be gifted to you at the end of your
experience.


Good hygiene during your experience

  • You must wash your hands regularly.
  • Do not eat food intended for the animals.
  • You must cover any cuts, open wounds or abrasions – please report any cuts, open wounds or abrasions to the animal team so they can ensureit is covered.
  • Report any bites, scratches etc to the animal team immediately.
  • Ensure you are wearing long-sleeved clothing and trousers.
  • Report any illness to the animal team.
  • Avoid wiping your hands on your clothing and ensure you wash your hands after.
  • Only eat and drink in designated areas after thoroughly washing and drying your hands
  • Change your shoes into your own shoes when leaving the animal experience. You may be asked to disinfect your shoes throughout the experience. This is with Safe4 disinfectant, which is a non-corrosive, safe disinfectant.

African Species – Wellies or suitable closed toe shoes with NO LACES must be worn. You will be required to disinfect your footwear directly after the experience. You will be provided with vinyl gloves and will be required to wash your hands thoroughly after the experience.

Carnivore Combo – Wellies or suitable closed toe shoes with NO LACES must be worn. You will be required to disinfect your footwear directly after the experience. You will be provided with vinyl gloves and will be required to wash your hands thoroughly after the experience.

Primate Experience – Wellies or suitable closed toe shoes with NO LACES must be worn. You will be required to disinfect your footwear directly after the experience. You will be provided with vinyl gloves and will be required to wash your hands thoroughly after the experience.

Monkey Armadillo – Wellies or suitable closed toe shoes with NO LACES must be worn. You will be required to disinfect your footwear directly after the experience. You will be provided with vinyl gloves and will be required to wash your hands thoroughly after the experience.

Meet the Lemurs – Suitable closed toe shoes with NO LACES must be worn. You will be required to disinfect your footwear directly after the experience. You will be provided with vinyl gloves and will be required to wash your hands thoroughly after the experience.

Meet the Tortoises – Wellies or suitable closed toe shoes WITH NO LACES must be worn. You will be required to disinfect your footwear directly after the experience. You will be provided with vinyl gloves and will be required to wash your hands thoroughly after the experience.

Meet the Small Furries – Wellies or suitable closed toe shoes WITH NO LACES must be worn. You will be required to disinfect your footwear directly after the experience. You will be provided with vinyl gloves and will be required to wash your hands thoroughly after the experience. You will be provided with a cape to protect your clothing and a folded towel to hold the animal in your lap.

Feed the Meerkats – Wellies or suitable closed toe shoes WITH NO LACES must be worn. You will be required to disinfect your footwear directly after the experience. You will be provided with vinyl gloves and will be required to wash your hands thoroughly after the experience.

Face Your Fears – No wellies are required. Wear suitable closed toe shoes. You may be required to disinfect your footwear directly after the experience. You will be provided with vinyl gloves and will be required to wash your hands thoroughly after the experience.

Waiver

Applicable for: Animal Experiences

 Note: Animal Experiences may differ in days offered, times offered, and have different age restrictions. Please consult your booking confirmation email for the date and time of your experience. Age restrictions may apply, depending on the experience for H&S purposes. Please ensure the experience you have booked is suitable for the age of the participant.

 

Hobbledown reserves the right to alter the experience or cancel at short notice. The booking holder (participant) will be notified of any changes or cancellations as early as possible.

The booking is only valid for the named recipient/s.

Bookings are non-refundable or transferable.

Proximity and contact with the animals is at the animal host/ instructor’s discretion.

The experience is implemented on a strict time scale.

Should you arrive late without prior notice the booking maybe cancelled or shortened. The participant must inform Hobbledown of any medical conditions, or any known allergies.

If a participant is behaving in a way which is detrimental to Hobbledown’s policies and guidelines we reserve the right to remove the booking holder (participant) from the premises without a refund.

A booking is only secured once full payment has been received.

Hobbledown has a no smoking policy.

Please do not eat or drink any foods intended for the animals.

In the event of an emergency please follow the instructions of your host/instructor.

Behind the scenes can be muddy so please wear appropriate clothing for working in all weathers. (To include long trousers and walking boots/wellingtons.)

It may be necessary, due to animal husbandry reasons, for participants to use a disinfectant footbath. Please ensure suitable footwear is worn.

Jewellery should be removed.

You must not enter an animal enclosure without the presence or authorisation of your host/instructor.

We are unable to guarantee any specific animals and itineraries as these may need to be altered for animal welfare reasons.

Hobbledown will not accept responsibility for any person disregarding health and safety guidelines or neglecting to follow safe working practice instruction by its trained animal hosts/instructors.

Please inform a member of the team of any phobias.

Photos can be taken; however, Hobbledown will not be liable for any damage to your device.

This package is sold as a whole. Substitutes or refunds are not available for any part of the experience.

PLEASE NOTE: Lemurs are sometimes fed LIVE mealworms during this experience. This is part of their natural diet.

 

Insurance

You are required to bring a copy of photo ID with you on the day of your experience. For insurance purposes, all booking holders must be between 6 + years of age and have up to date tetanus vaccination. This experience is for ages of 6 + years. As such, if the participant is under 18, they must be accompanied by an adult (Parent or Guardian) who will be responsible for them at all times.

You will not be liable for accidental damage to equipment, except where damage has been caused as a result of reckless or wilful negligence.

 

Animal Experiences Health and Safety

It is the participant’s responsibility to ensure all cuts and abrasions are covered prior to commencing the experience.

Please bring wellies for the experience, or high-topped boots.

Please wash your hands before and after the experience. Nitrile gloves will be provided.

** Whilst every effort is made to accommodate everyone, due to the nature of the experience unfortunately, at the present time the experience is not suitable for pregnant guests, mothers who are nursing or guests with immunosuppressant illnesses. This experience may not be suitable for disabilities which impact on motor skills, mobility, or learning difficulties. Please contact us to discuss your individual needs.

 

Medical conditions and Allergies

This experience may not be suitable for people with allergies due to the presence of allergens during feed experience, close proximity with various species of animals, their feed, and bedding. If you have any allergies, then you must contact the company prior to attending your experience. We will provide you with all the information to allow you to make an informed decision whether to go ahead with the experience or not.

We are happy to discuss your requirements and make reasonable adjustments to the experience. The company reserves the right to cancel an experience for Health and Safety reasons as guest safety is our number one priority.

Please review this waiver in its entirety prior to signing, and if you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us.

Applicable Animal Experiences Under This Waiver

African Species (6+)

Carnivore Combo (10+)

Primate Experience (10+)

Monkey Armadillo (8+)

Meet the Lemurs (6+)

Meet the Tortoises (5+)

Meet the Small Furries (3+)

Feed the Meerkats (6+)

Face Your Fears (6+)

Please ensure your booked experience is suitable for the age of the participant. Please consult the accompanying Animal Experiences H&S Letter for requirements on appropriate footwear for your booked experience. Please consult your booking confirmation email for the date and time of your booked Animal Experience.

Cancellation rules

Once the booking has been made, we are not able to change the date and the experience is nonrefundable (apart from exceptional circumstances; as deemed so by Hobbledown.)

DISCLAIMER: A disclaimer must be signed by the participant or the Parent/Guardian of any participant under 18 before they can take part in an Animal Experience.

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