Started by Robert and Katy Kerling, the small traveling zoo recently participated in its second annual Easter egg hunt and community giveback event in downtown Brentwood, where families gathered to celebrate the holiday and enjoy hands-on experiences with animals. The Kerlings say giving back is about more for them than operating a family business.
Read more San Jose classroom aide arrested on suspicion of sending harmful material to student
“Giving back is more than a passion; it’s our way of life,” said Robert Kerling.
Katy Kerling said the family quickly realized the emotional impact the animals could have on the community.
“People lighting up, squealing loudly in joy, crying over the opportunity to love on our animals,” she said. “What I didn’t know is how much joy this brings to the community.”
The petting zoo’s story is rooted in family, service and a willingness to take a chance when opportunity knocked. Robert, born in Bad Hersfeld, then part of West Germany, says his dad was in the U.S. Army and stationed there. When his father got out of the Army, his family moved to Mesa, Arizona where Robert lived until age 18 and joined the service himself.
He later joined the U.S. Coast Guard and was stationed in Houston, where he met his wife, Katy. The couple raised their family there before relocating to California.
“We came to California for a two-week emergency job at Valero Benicia,” said Robert.
Although the assignment was originally expected to be temporary, the family remained in California and now calls Oakley home. The business itself remains a true family operation. While Robert continues working full-time as a pipefitter with Plumbers & Steamfitters Local Union 342 and Katy works as a real estate agent, their sons play an essential role in caring for the animals and helping operate events.
“Our sons Joshua, Joseph and Thomas all work the petting zoos and maintain the animals on a day-to-day basis as well,” Robert said.
Joshua helps manage daily operations, scheduling and business logistics while Joseph oversees much of the daily animal care and Thomas assists with weekend petting zoo events and animal care.
“My typical day tends to consist of making sure we are stocked with feed and hay for the animals and checking petting supplies,” said Joshua, 20, who helps oversee operations and event scheduling too. “I also handle making the certificate of insurance and invoices.”
The idea for the business came unexpectedly in 2024. At the time, the Kerlings owned animals simply as family pets. Then a neighbor approached them with an unusual request.
“We had some pets that were just our pets, and our neighbor asked us if we could do a petting zoo for the Brentwood pumpkin patch in 2024,” said Robert.
Katy said the opportunity came together almost overnight.
“Our neighbor’s pig was loose in our yard,” Katy said with a laugh. “She was supposed to do a petting zoo at the pumpkin patch and asked if we could do it instead. Instantly, I called Robert. We had the material and within a day, we were set up.”
The family had limited experience operating a public petting zoo and owned far fewer animals than they do today. Still, they accepted the challenge. Just four days after being asked, the family launched the attraction in October 2024 at the Brentwood Pumpkin Patch in that city’s downtown. The response from the community exceeded their expectations.
During the month-long event, visitors repeatedly asked whether the family offered petting zoos for birthday parties and other special occasions. Those inquiries quickly turned into bookings, inspiring the Kerlings to expand. The family invested in custom-built trailers designed to transport animals safely to events.
Read more Woman beaten with wrench, robbed in El Cerrito
“Now we are up to three custom trailers as well as three trucks to pull them,” said Robert, whose zoo consists of mini Highland cows, rabbits, babydoll sheep, ducks, pigs, goats and more.
Joshua said the rapid growth has required strong organization and communication within the family.
“We haven’t really had many challenges in terms of operating the business together due to good communication among us,” he said.
The momentum from October 2024 continued through that fall. In November of that year, the family officially established the business as a limited liability corporation.
Today, The Mini-Experience Petting Zoo travels throughout Contra Costa County, the Bay Area and greater Sacramento, bringing animals directly to schools, community celebrations, birthday parties and seasonal events. Katy said the family’s mission extends far beyond entertainment.
“We love people. We love the community,” she said. “Robert and I both believe we are all in this life together. We have a choice to build one another up or tear one another down. We choose to build together.”
The family also collaborates with community organizations, such as Concord’s Moose Lodge, with whom they coordinate backpack drives, toy drives and special events for children and veterans. The family says one of their most meaningful events was participating in Special Kids Day, hosted by the Moose Lodge and Concord Lions Club. The Kerlings say success is measured by more than growth, though.
“It has been a real blessing to see the joy that this brings to adults and kids,” said Robert. “The smiles and laughs that come with the animals is amazing.”
Joshua envisions growth for their future.
“My main goal right now is to get schools looking at us to book more events during the weekdays,” he said. “I expect in a couple years we will have yearly recurring festivals that have shown to perform well for us in the past.”
Katy added that the family remains grateful for the life they’ve built in Contra Costa County.
“We arrived here seven years ago with our truck, children, our dogs and two weeks’ worth of work,” she said. “Now we have roots. It’s amazing.”
For more information online, search for “The Mini-Experience Petting Zoo” on Facebook (bit.ly/theminiexpettingzoo) or visit yelp.com/biz/the-mini-experience-petting-zoo-oakley.
Reach Charleen Earley, a freelance writer and journalism professor at Diablo Valley college, at [email protected] or 925-383-3072.
Read more CCS roundup: Mitty beats Hollister, will play Willow Glen in Open softball final
About the Author
