A park guest has been injured by an animal.
The most common injuries are nibbles, bites or pecks from an animal, especially when feeding. These do not usually break the skin, but sometimes they do. Regardless of the severity, if a parent is bringing it up to you, it’s because they need something from you. The first thing you should do is apologize. If the injury is really minor, the child may just be scared or have hurt feelings. Stay sympathetic but upbeat and tell them that it was an accident and the animal didn’t mean to hurt them.
If the bite broke the skin or the parent is upset, take them to the manager. Some parents will wonder if the animals can pass on any diseases or if their child could get an infection. The answer to both of those questions is no. But encourage them to wash the injury and offer them antibacterial ointment and a band-aid to prevent any other risk of infection. All animals are up to date on their shots and the transmission of rabies from livestock to people is almost unheard of.
Regardless of the situation, do not downplay their feelings or escalate the situation. Be calm and sympathetic to the extent it seems appropriate. Tell us how to reach us (info@honeyhillfarm.net or 859.654.8015) if they have questions. Always report an injuries to Jason so we will be prepared for a call should one come in.
An animal is sick or injured.
Remove the animal from the view public view and make him or her comfortable. Call or text the animal care manager at 606-344-7345. If you are unable to reach him and it is an emergency, you can also call Sally Powell at 859.743.0299.
An animal has died.
Sometimes animals die. It is always sad, and often nobody’s fault. You will not be in trouble if an animal dies in your care, unless there are signs of negligence. If an animal dies at your park, your first priority is to remove it from public view and then notify Jason immediately. If the animal is too large to move, notify Jason immediately, so that we can get the park’s assistance.
You are experiencing extremely bad weather.
You will experience a variety of bad weather throughout the season, including severe storms with wind and lightning. The animals are largely accustomed to adverse weather. However, in certain rare circumstances, it may be necessary for you to take action to protect them. When severe weather is predicted, move animals to the safest place available to you. Secure all objects that could be destroyed or moved by wind. Ensure that the most weather sensitive animals receive adequate shelter. Make sure to take care of yourself as well!
You need something from the park.
From time to time, you may need a new sign or have a maintenance issue. When this happens, contact Jason Lawson and he will direct the request to the appropriate person. Never approach a park employee about this unless it is an actual emergency that threatens the immediate safety of a person or animal.
You’re understaffed.
Your park operates with just enough staff to ensure things run smoothly. This means, that if one or more people call in sick, your team will be understaffed. If you are understaffed for one or two days, the manager will contact us and we will provide instruction on how to handle the situation. If your park is chronically understaffed, notify Jason so that he can make arrangements for a more long term solution.
You are having a problem with a fellow team-member.
Some friction among individuals is inevitable in any team environment. But friction that turns into harassment, bullying or inappropriate behavior will not be tolerated. Everyone deserves to work in a safe, respectful and professional environment. If you do not feel comfortable talking to your on site manager about problems you are having with a fellow team-member, please contact Jason, Rob or Megan to discuss the matter confidentially.
You are having a problem with you on-site manager.
If you feel like your onsite manager is not performing their duties responsibly or properly addressing issues at the park, please reach out to Jason, Rob or Megan to discuss the matter further. You will never be punished for bringing your concerns to us.
You are concerned about animal welfare.
We understand that all of our team members are animal lovers. Honey Hill Farm has some of the highest animal care standards in the industry. Still, there is always room for improvement. If you have a concern about the welfare of any of our animals, please bring the matter to our attention immediately by contacting the Animal Care Director. If you do not feel like the issue is being addressed properly, you can contact Jason, Rob or Megan as well.
A park guest is concerned about animal welfare.
There is nothing wrong with a concerned animal lover asking questions about the welfare of our animals. Some petting zoo companies give others a bad reputation. The best thing you can do is to never give anyone the impression that our animals aren’t well cared for. Make sure that animals ALWAYS have access to clean water and shade (when needed), and that they never appear tired, injured, or sick. If they do, and you cannot remedy the situation, put the animal somewhere out of sight.
But you will occasionally encounter a customer who you can’t pacify. This is rare. When it happens, politely introduce them to the manager. If you are the manager, make sure all of their reasonable concerns are met, and then encourage them to contact Honey Hill Farm’s main office to discuss it further. Do not get overly defensive. If they become hostile or create a scene, ask them to leave the area, but do this as a last resort. Follow up with Rob or Jason quickly about the situation so that we can be prepared for an angry phone call.
