Checking it Out: Debbie Dolittle's Indoor Petting Zoo
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I’ve been curious about Debbie Dolittle's Indoor Petting Zoo for a while. I was really hoping to find someone that had been there to see what it’s all about, but everyone I talk to is just like me: never been but curious. One recent Saturday afternoon we had nothing to do and I figured it was the perfect time to see what the place as all about.
Now, I can be that person to you - you know, the one I was looking for to tell me all about it. Yup, here I am ready to share all the details with you. Before I dive into this, I do want to say I have no insights or information about any of Debbie Dolittle’s animal practices. I saw some stuff online a while ago shaming it for poor animal treatment, but I really don’t know the whole story - what’s true, what’s not true, I don’t know. I’m just going to share what our experience was that afternoon with our kids.
Upon driving up, my initial reaction was slightly disappointed. It’s in a strip mall looking building and the signage outdated and hokey. It was a far cry from a farm or zoo and seemed quite small. But we drove all the way out there, so we went in to check it out.
The gal at the entrance was very friendly and welcomed up with a warm smile. She was also informative and shared that there were baby sea otters that we should be sure to check out. Speaking of the employees, as we explored the zoo, all the employees were friendly and helpful.
In the petting zoo, there is the main area where there are goats (dwarf, pygmy, etc), calves (some small breed), rabbits, and a capybara (who just hung out in the hay trough) that roam around and you can pet. Along the sides are some areas that are gated that have some other animals like a kangaroo (or it may have been a wallaby), a Patagonian mara, a tamandua, foxes, and some other cute animals I can’t remember. You could buy some food (lettuce mainly) to feed the animals, but it’s $5 so we skipped it (doesn’t that seem high to you?).
In the back, there is another room that has the reptiles and also the baby sea otters. The baby sea otters were only 11 weeks old and totally adorable. They took in a few people at a time to sit down in a gated off area then they let the three otters run around. Caleb and I got to do this and it was a blast.
Also, in the backroom, they took out a snake, which I opted not to pet. There was a ferret that Caleb petted as well as some other animals to look at like a bearded dragon and more reptiles.
I asked an employee how many animals they had and she said about 30 different breeds. She mentioned they also have a farm that they transport the animals to during the summer (I think it was seasonal, but I was also half watching the kids and trying to have a conversation). Hopefully, it’s not just seasonal but something they do frequently so as the animals get fresh air and more space (and a break from all the petting).
Overall, it was a nice change of pace and we got to show the kids some different animals than what’s at the zoo. We spent about an hour there, but I couldn’t imagine staying much longer unless you do one of their experiences (which I don’t really know much about). Honestly, I think it’s a one, may two-time experience since it’s rather expensive, not huge, and a bit of a drive. And I also hate to think they might have some animal cruelty? As I wrote this and looked some things up, Yelpers seemed outraged by the treatment (and deaths?) of some of the animals
Pros:
Introduce new animals to the kids
Chance to pet the animals
It’s inside so you can go when it rains
Cons:
Possible mistreatment of animals!!
Expensive ($12/adult, $10/child + $5 for food, optional) - see prices
The place is rather small (likely a problem with first con above)
So there you have it. All that I know about Debbie Dolittle's and now you can make a decision if you’d like to go…or not!