News Summary
A mother in College Station is undergoing rabies treatment after being bitten by a lemur during her daughter’s birthday party at an exotic petting zoo. Allegations have arisen claiming that the zoo’s owner urged her to misrepresent the injury as a cat bite. Despite offers of a refund and assistance with medical costs, the mother has yet to receive any compensation. This incident raises concerns about safety protocols in place at the facility, further complicated by questions regarding the legitimacy of the petting zoo’s USDA license.
College Station – A mother from College Station was bitten by a lemur during her daughter’s birthday party at an exotic petting zoo, leading to allegations about the owner urging her to conceal the injury. Aundrea Griffin, who organized the event with Kanga Parties Petting Zoo and More for her daughter’s third birthday in early May, is now undergoing rabies treatments as a result of the bite from a lemur named Julien.
Griffin claims that after the incident, the owner of the petting zoo, Chandler Horak, advised her to lie about the injury, suggesting she should say it was a cat bite if she sought medical attention. Furthermore, Griffin has reported receiving numerous harassing calls and messages from unknown numbers after sharing her experience online.
The petting zoo has reportedly offered a refund and assistance with medical expenses, but Griffin asserts that she has not received any compensation as promised. The incident raises questions about the safety protocols in place at the facility, especially since Griffin was not asked to sign a waiver before the birthday event.
In response to the situation, Kanga Parties Petting Zoo issued a statement acknowledging the incident and asserting that they have been in direct contact with Griffin. A spokesperson for the company pointed out that there are inherent risks when interacting with exotic animals and that safety protocols are communicated to guests before events. Notably, staff members indicated that Griffin did not adhere to specific instructions provided by animal handlers during her encounter with the lemur.
The petting zoo maintains a strict policy against interactions with animals while under the influence of alcohol, emphasizing guest safety. Kanga Parties also has reported having hosted hundreds of events without incident and is currently conducting an internal review of the event in question.
As a precaution, experts recommend that individuals seeking to book a petting zoo inquire thoroughly about the sourcing of the animals, the qualifications of the handlers, and the health and safety protocols implemented during events. In the wake of the incident, Kanga Parties temporarily disabled its Facebook page but has since resumed posting and accepting bookings.
Regarding the legitimacy of Kanga Parties’ operation, the company shared a USDA license with local news channels, but representatives from the USDA could not confirm its validity in the government registry under the Animal Welfare Act. This uncertainty adds another layer of complexity to the unfolding situation.
Griffin has admitted that she did not conduct extensive research on the petting zoo prior to hiring them, mainly relying on Google ratings and social media feedback. This has raised further discussion among parents and potential clients about the importance of due diligence when selecting services involving animals.
The incident highlights the potential dangers associated with exotic animal encounters, as well as the importance of adhering to safety regulations. As Kanga Parties Petting Zoo continues to navigate the aftermath of this incident, Griffin’s experience serves as a cautionary tale for families considering similar events in the future.
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- KBTX: Lemur Bite Incident
- Wikipedia: Rabies
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- Google Search: College Station Business Closures
- KBTX: Texas Medical Board Appointment
- Google Scholar: Texas Medical Board Appointments
- KBTX: Year in Review 2020
- Encyclopedia Britannica: 2020 Business Closures
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- Google News: Cobra Found College Station
