Public Health provides information to operators of animal exhibits to reduce the risk of transmission of disease from animals to humans. All animals, including all domestic, wild, and exotic animals can possibly have zoonotic infections that could be passed to humans and cause illness.
Notification requirements
Animal exhibit operators must notify Public Health of their intent to operate an animal exhibit in the area at least 20 days prior to date. Special events for animal exhibits can include fairs, expos, and carnivals.
Special event permits
- Animal exhibit application (PDF, 637 KB)
- Food service organizer application (PDF, 1 MB)
- Food service vendor application (PDF, 850 KB)
- Personal service application (PDF, 175 KB)
Animal exhibit applicants must:
- Notify Public Health of any significant changes to the original application.
- List all the animals they intend to have at the event and if they will be handled or not.
- Ensure the infection prevention and control requirements listed in the application packages are followed.
Once the completed application is received, a public health inspector will review the package with the animal exhibit vendor. If approved, a permit will be issued within 10 days from the date the application was approved.
The following precautions are necessary to ensure the safety of everyone—your guests, staff, animals, and yourself.
Animal exhibit operators must:
- Post signs that are remind patrons to wash hands at exits from animal areas and in non-animal areas where food is served and consumed.
- Ensure hand hygiene facilities (handwashing facilities or alcohol-based hand-sanitizers) are located at every exit from animal areas, are accessible to children and persons with disabilities, and are routinely cleaned and restocked.
- Use barriers, gates, and signs to discourage uncontrolled access to animals and animal areas and establish well-defined and clearly labelled transition areas between animal areas, and other areas.
- Remove manure and soiled bedding from animal enclosures promptly.
- Clean, rinse, and disinfect animal areas at least once daily, where feasible.
- Prohibit/do not allow food, beverages, smoking, toys, pacifiers, spill-proof cups (
sippy-cups
), and baby bottles in animal areas. - Ensure all mammals for which vaccine use has been approved by a veterinarian, are vaccinated against rabies if the animal is accessible to the public.
- Be informed and follow the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Long-Term Care’s recommendations to prevent disease and injury associated with petting zoos (PDF) in Ontario.
Contact a public health inspector
In addition to conducting regular compliance inspections, public health inspectors are available to offer education regarding your obligations.
They can provide you with information so that you can ensure that you meet necessary regulatory requirements.