I raise sheep... and for easter (in and around easter thereabouts) we have had 2 new lambs... "tater, and now "Rex" My sheep are like HUGE... with one adult ewe easily over 200lbs and my ram at 300 is no joke.. but "tater" joined us at 5lbs.. now Rex, was HUGE .. had I not been there to assist, We would have lost mom and baby today.. My friend was here ... fresh from Ca.. NOT a "farm girl" type, the expression she had when I put on shoulder length OB gloves, and turned to her saying "Im gonna need your help " was PRICELESS!!! but it was SO great to be able to show the 3 little kids, all under 3.. the new and still wet baby lamb... momma calling him, him answering ion the tiniest (sp) voice.. the 3 kids all crowded around and my son says .. "it's a cutea littlea fella" was I worried at that moment about him getting salmonella and or botulism? or any of the other diseases the petting zoo animals are supposed to carry? what some ppl forget, is snotty nosed nasty fingered diaper wearin toddlers and kids, parents who didnt wash after a change of a diaper, or whatever are ppl in GROUPS touching anything at an amusement park/theme park/circus/fair..
anytime you go somewhere big like that ... touching a picnic table houses just as many deadly germs as the backs of those animals and we dont I hope even NEED to go into discussing the possible state of the restrooms at those places/. HEALTHY clean farm animals do not normally carry these bacteria that are so negativly reported..EXCEPT possibly directly in thier feces. THAT, thru either cold, OR the heat of the sun, AND baths, as well as clean stalls, removal of bedding , removes and kills a HUGE majority of those that cause ANY problems. what about the press reporting farm kids in rural countries who are also NOT starving and suffering other disease from extreme poverty.. have the best immune systems in the world! .. what about the research that shows, infants who are exposed regularly to more than 2 different species of animal , are less likely to have allergies and asthma if exposed before age 2.. I will always Wash hands, and stay prudent with ANY publicly exposed item.. after all... inadvertently, We could bring something bad home to our animals. which is more likely than to my kids.. "
and when the "fowl flu" finally creates the newest epidemic?? I will bet my immune system and that of my kids, over any "bubble" child of the 21st century.. the apartment dwelling, rec room raised, no pet having kid??? nah I think ... u hafta eat a "peck of dirt before you die" .. I have 3 kids... and in TOTAL.. all 3 of them have had antibiotics .. 12 times. .. and one kid is almost an adult. yes, I worry more about the germs from the other kids I see than I ever have from my rural life.