North Carolina Family Hires Petting Zoo For Event. Weeks Later, The Entire Guest List Is Getting Rabies Shots: ‘I Thought You Had To Be Bitten To Be Exposed?’

Petting zoos are a popular party event. But for one family, who hired a petting zoo for a party, it led to shocking consequences and rabies fears.

The video, which has amassed 2.8 million views, consists of footage of a man getting a rabies shot in a hospital. On-screen text says: “POV: You hire a petting zoo for a family event… and weeks later your entire family and guest are getting rabies shots.”

“Please don’t take our laughing the wrong way,” the text continued. “We’re stressed, overwhelmed, and honestly using humor to deal with how crazy the situation is.”

In the video description, TikToker Taty (@tatyyv) added, “Our event was August 16 in Durham, NC. We later learned about a confirmed rabies investigation involving baby goats from a mobile petting zoo that attended events during that time. We are working with Public Health and sharing this so other potentially affected families can get information.”

“If you, your family, friends, or anyone you know attended an event with Farm Adventures in North Carolina between July 27th and August 28th, please contact your local health department ASAP and ask if you may need rabies post-exposure treatment/shots.”

‘A Lot Of People Were And Are Still Unaware Of The Exposure’

In a conversation via TikTok direct message, Taty said, “It’s been a very overwhelming situation because my husband and I were the ones who hired the petting zoo and in someway feel guilt for exposing the rest of my family and guest to these animals even though we were obviously unaware the goats had been exposed to rabies and there was no way of us knowing beforehand. We were just trying to give our guest and children a great time.”

She went on to say that “the most stressful part was communicating with every one of my guests and breaking the news to them and urging them to please seek treatment as I mentioned before. No one had contacted me or any of my guest so we took it upon ourselves to contact everyone and let them know about NCDHHS confirming the rabies.”

Taty then said that she decided to share the clip online because “we found out we had been one of the first few people to get started on the rabies treatment and the first to come forward telling health officials we had came in contact with the goats.”

“I feel more for the people who were exposed earlier on and could possibly still not know,” she admitted. “I’m worried a lot of people were and are still unaware of the exposure and I’m just hoping my social media posts will reach every one who may have come in contact with the goats from farm adventures and contact their local health department and ask about post exposure treatment. I had a couple comments in one of my posts from people who said they went to the petting zoo and did not know about this case until they came across my video!”

The petting zoo has since taken down its website and Facebook page.

‘Send The Bill To The Petting Zoo’

Some commenters encouraged the TikToker to take action.

“What happens in this situation?” one asked. “I feel like I would ask for a full refund and for the petting zoo owners to pay for all rabies shots. some may not have the extra funds to go and get one, lots of people don’t even have insurance.”

“Send the bill to that petting zoo because I’m pretty sure this treatment is $$$$$$” a second said.

Others shared their own experiences.

“Poor guy,” a third wrote. “Rabies shots are no joke. I had to go through the vaccine series, and after one of my follow-up shots my legs started getting weak and numb, with the numbness traveling upward. I was rushed to the ER because they were worried about Guillain-Barré syndrome and did a spinal tap. Unfortunately, that spinal tap led to a CSF leak, and I’ve been dealing with the consequences and disability from it eight years later. It completely changed my life.”

“I was exposed at the 8/23 event in Durham,” a fourth added. They said that, after getting their first shot yesterday, they were a “nervous wreck.”

“I can’t tell if I’m having side affects from the vaccine, a cold, or early rabies symptoms because they all are so similar,” they said. “I hope y’all are all alright. Feel like we need to start a support group for the emotional distress.”

What Happened Next?

The family provided more context in further TikToks. In one, they showed footage from the zoo, in which the goats are interacting normally. In another, they shared a screenshot of a statement from the petting zoo. The farm said in a Facebook post that the baby goats, who were kept in a separate pen, were too young to be vaccinated and encountered skunk, which bit them without them knowing. The goats were subsequently euthanized. The family also shared footage of them getting booster shots.

Moreover, Misty Love, the owner of Farm Adventures, told CNN, “I care about my community, and I care about my customers. If my customers that saw my animals have questions, I’m going to be there for them.”

How Is Rabies Transmitted And Treated?

Rabies is usually passed on through an animal’s saliva. Usually, infection happens if this saliva comes into contact with an open wound or abrasion.  It usually comes from being bitten by the animal. Still, any wound or abrasion is a risk.  However, the World Heath Organization’s website also notes that rabies can be transmitted via the body’s mucosa. This refers to the moist, inner tissues that line the body’s passages and cavities. In practice, this includes saliva coming into contact with one’s eyes or mouth.

Rabies is treated in two ways. There is pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for those considered high-risk in contracting rabies, like people working with animals. There is also post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). Per the WHO website, this consists of “extensive wound washing with water and soap for at least 15 minutes soon after an exposure; a course of rabies vaccine; and administration of rabies immunoglobulin or monoclonal antibodies into the wound, if indicated.”

Rabies becomes fatal once the virus reaches the central nervous system and other clinical symptoms begin to appear. Symptoms include a fever, pain, and a strange prickling/burning/tingling at the wound site, if applicable.

As previously reported by BroBible, the risk of rabies in humans has led to concerns surrounding the NBA’s previous bat problem and backlash over the euthanizing of P’Nut the squirrel and Fred the raccoon. Still, rabies in the U.S. is considered rare.