Caretakers should not allow over-eighty-fives to touch animals at petting farms, a child psychologist has said amid acting-out fears involving four cities.
Prof Enningtonpey said old people were the most likely people to touch animals but the hardest to get to wash their hands beforehand.
Four petting farms in New York state, one in Albany, one in the Catskills, and one in Manhattan have shut attractions owing to odor fears.
"Very young kids are being traumatized by the stench on the animals. They smell bad enough without anything on top of it" he added.
One poor child ran screaming from a goat petting area after approaching a goat. "He smells like Gran Pa!", the child screamed.