At Parkside Farm, we take animal health and safety seriously not only for our animals, but for those who interact with them. We reach a broad age range through our onsite and offsite mobile programs, our desire is to protect our clients and families from young to elderly who we interact with and engage through farm education. We strive to be transparent and ethical in all we do, especially when it comes to animal health and safety. Below are the biosecurity protocols we have in place to work towards health and safety for all. Parkside Farm obtained GAAMPs verification November 16, 2023 in conformance with the Care of Farm Animal practices as outlined in the Care of Farm Animals GAAMPs, including access to appropriate nutrition, clean water, shelter, ventilation, and health care. Nicole Zaagman has also also taken optional sessions put on by the Institute of Health Logistics & Analytics, view certificates below:

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Workplace Health & Safety Training On Zoonotic Diseases - Certificate of Completion 2024

Workplace Health & Safety Training On Infectious Diseases - Certificate of Completion 2024

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No Outside Animal Policy

1. Onsite Programming: 

Parkside Farm does not permit any outside animals to visit the farm. This includes all domestic pets and livestock. The only exception to this rule are trained service animals (this excludes any and all emotional support or therapy animals). We love animals and are glad you do, too. We have this strict rule in place to keep everyone healthy and safe. Anyone booking an appointment or class at our farm is required to sign our digital contract and liability waiver for participation in farm experiences and activities.

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2. Offsite (Mobile) Programming:

Parkside Farm does not permit any outside animals or petting zoos to work or be contracted at or for an event we are hired to participate in. This includes domestic pets, reptiles, poultry, fowl and livestock. The only exception to this rule are miniature, ponies and full size horses and trained service animals (this excludes any and all emotional support or therapy animals). While we cannot control who may have pets such as dogs at large, public festivals, we will display signs and ask those who approach our area with animals to please keep pets, animals and dogs away from our display and prohibit them from approaching if need be. Our pygmy Goats and other animals will view other animals and especially dogs as predators and will react as such. Parkside Farm also cannot take on the liability for another farm, traveling animal program or petting zoo, nor know their biosecurity protocols or vaccination status of the animals included (exotic or domestic), reptiles, poultry, fowl and livestock and therefore we have a strict no outside animal policy for offsite programming. Anyone booking a mobile programming experience is required to sign our digital contract and liability waiver for participation at contracted event, location or premises.

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Health & Safety Protocols

1. Veterinary Care

Parkside Farm has working relationships with Southkent Veterinary Hospital - Pet & Farm Services (in Caledonia, MI) as well as West Michigan Veterinary Service (Coopersville, MI). Here is a breakdown of routine and preventative care our animals receive:

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Registered Pygmy Goats:

• Adult goats: annual CDT vaccination (Clostridium perfringens Type C, Clostridium perfringens Type D, Tetanus).

• Baby goats (under 12 months): CDT vaccination at newborn checkup and disbudding.

• Once 3 months old, our goats receive annual or every 3 year rabies vaccinations administered by a veterinarian.

• Annual biosecurity screening for Johnes Disease, CL (Caseous Lymphadenitis) and CAE (Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis). 

• Fecal tests for parasites and treatment as needed or recommended.

• Regular hoof trims and preventative mite and lice treatment.

• Regular bathing and grooming for offsite programming.

• All of our pygmy goats live in specific goat housing and enclosures.

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Cats & Dogs:

• All of our cats and dogs are responsibly spayed and neutered.

• All of our cats and dogs receive annual or every 3 year rabies vaccinations as required by law.

• Our dogs have appropriate dog licenses registered with Kent County, Michigan. 

• Our dogs are titered annually for other vaccinations and administered appropriate vaccinations as needed.

• All of our cats and dogs receive routine and seasonal flea, lice and tick topical medication.

• Our cats are administered the Feline UltraNasal® FVRCP Vaccine as needed.

• Some of our farm cats do sleep with and spend time with our registered pygmy goats.

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Holland Lop Rabbits:

• Our male rabbit is responsibly neutered to live with our female rabbits.

• All of our rabbits are continually monitored for health, comfort and wellness. 

• All of our rabbits live in a separate shed with outdoor run away from any other farm animals.

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Bantam Chickens:​

• All of our chickens are continually monitored for health, comfort and wellness. 

• All of our chickens live in a separate shed with outdoor run away from any other farm animals.

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Honeybees:​

• All of our honeybee hives are located in our bee apiary away from the public and groups who come for classes and tours.

• We perform seasonal mite checks and rotate mite treatments for effectiveness and efficacy for our colonies.

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2. Safety Precautions

Hand Sanitation:

• Onsite: all farm experiences require hand sanitation before, during (between species) and after handling and feeding animals.

  • Parkside Farm provides hand sanitizer and optional hand washing sink or station for every onsite experience.

• Offsite: all offsite mobile experiences have bottles of hand sanitizer provided for before and after handling and feeding animals.

  • Mobile participants are encouraged to hand wash at nearby bathrooms, especially before eating and drinking.​

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Animal Safety:

• Our pygmy goats are professionally disbudded around 7 days old for safety for themselves, other animals and humans.

• We do not permit baby pygmy goats to travel or be handled before they are two weeks old and disbudded.

• We do not permit baby goats to be unattended by professional handlers or away from their mothers.

• Note: baby goats are not eligible for rabies vaccination until 3 months old.

• For feeding pygmy goats, we instruct participants to feed with a fully flat hand with fingers extended for safety.

• Our bantam chickens and holland lop rabbits will never be left unattended with any participant.

  • We provide strict instructions on how to gently pet our bantam chickens and holland lop rabbits.​

• All of our goats, chickens and rabbits are securely locked inside with cameras at night for predator and biosecurity protection. 

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Regular Cleaning:

• Our registered pygmy goat housing is cleaned and power washed multiple times a month and buckets routinely changed and washed.

• Our chicken and rabbit housing is cleaned multiple times per month and drinking receptacles routinely changed and washed.

• Our outdoor farm spaces are monitored for domestic and wild animal feces and properly disposed of as needed.

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Feed and Nutrition:

• All of our animals are provided high quality feed rations per animal species and provided clean drinking water, daily.

• Our registered pygmy goats receive vitamins and minerals to help boost immune function, wellness and digestive health.

• Our animals are treated with respect and dignity. Parkside Farm will not hesitate to obtain professional veterinary care when needed.

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Quarantine Safety:

• New registered pygmy goat will go through a minimum 30 day quarantine, biosecurity testing and receive necessary vaccinations.

• New bantam chickens will receive a wellness exam performed by Parkside Farm and go through a minimum 30 day quarantine.

• New holland lop rabbits will undergo professional veterinary health screenings and go through a minimum 30 day quarantine.

• We do not bring in any new cats or dogs without professional veterinary health screenings, appropriate vaccinations and quarantine.

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Exhibition Safety:

• Parkside Farm does not take it's animals to exhibitions, shows, fairs or otherwise for biosecurity and healthy and safety reasons.

• If Nicole Zaagman judges a livestock show, she takes biosecurity precautions to minimize any transfer of pathogens to her animals.

• Parkside Farm does not transport animals for other farms or take in any animals not intended for residence at the farm.

• Received written confirmation from the USDA on September 14, 2023 that Parkside Farm does not require any Animal Welfare, Care or Exhibition License, etc available from the USDA, because our animals fall under traditional farming animals (goats, poultry, rabbits).

• Received our farm scrapie ID from the USDA August 24, 2021 for approved microchips, scrapie flock ID # is MIK2048.

• Parkside Farm does not currently travel outside of the state of Michigan for programming.

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Disease Plan:

• Onsite: if an animal becomes ill with a species specific illness (meaning non-zoonotic, not transmissible to humans), the following applies:

  • Animal or animals will be treated as appropriate and off limits for the public to interact with and engage.

    • Examples include: cold, pneumonia, anemia, ​lethargy, fever, coccidiosis, lice, etc. 

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• Onsite: if an animal or animals becomes ill with a zoonotic or contagious to human disease, the following applies:

  • Animal will be isolated away from other animals, treated and will not return with other animals until it has made a full recovery.​

  • Client will be notified in advance and given the opportunity to reschedule appointment at the farm.

    • Examples include: pink eye, ring worm, orf (sore mouth), cryptosporidium, etc - note we've never had incident of these diseases.

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• Offsite: if an animal becomes ill with a species specific illness (meaning non-zoonotic, not transmissible to humans), the following applies:

  • Animal or animals will be treated as appropriate and off limits for the public to interact with and engage.

  • Another animal will be utilized in it's place for programming needs as agreed to in programming quote and contract.

  • Examples include: cold, pneumonia, anemia, ​lethargy, fever, coccidiosis, lice, etc. 

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• Offsite: if an animal or animals becomes ill with a zoonotic or contagious to human disease, the following applies:

  • Animal will be isolated away from other animals, treated and will not return with other animals until it has made a full recovery.​

  • Client will be notified in advance and given the opportunity to reschedule mobile programming as appropriate.

    • Examples include: pink eye, ring worm, orf (sore mouth), cryptosporidium, etc - note we've never had incident of these diseases.​

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Rabies Plan:

• Onsite: should a common rabies vector animal for Michigan (bat, skunk, raccoon, fox and/or woodchuck) be found in one of our enclosures with any of our animals present in said enclosure and in contact with said vector animal (exposure or bite), the following applies:

  • Vector animal will be properly secured and Kent County Health Department will be contacted for further instructions or testing.
  • Farm animals in contact with vector animal will remain in observation quarantine based on health department's instructions.
  • If a positive rabies case is confirmed in the vector animal, any scheduled clients will be notified and given the opportunity to reschedule onsite or offsite programming as appropriate per the health department's instructions.
  • Please note per Kent County Health Department's website: "On average, there is one case per year of animal rabies detected. The last case of human rabies was in 1983."

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Despite all animal health & safety protocols, sometimes things are beyond human control and prevention. Should an animal owned by Parkside Farm be found to have a zoonotic or contagious to human disease by one of our licensed veterinary practices and notification of a client or public be necessary, Parkside Farm will work with the appropriate veterinary professionals, state and county health departments to communicate any pertinent health and safety information as appropriate.

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For any questions regarding Animal Health & Safety, please email Nicole Zaagman: info@nicolezaagman.com.