04 Nov 2025 Pets of the Month: Short-Legged Petting Zoo and A&R Mini Farm

By Lori Dunn

Amber Sudduth always loved animals but was never able to have as many as she wanted. “When we married, I told my husband I wanted a lot of animals and he bought me a little bottle baby goat,” she said.

Tanner and Amber Sudduth own Short-Legged Petting Zoo and A&R Mini Farm. Their two children, Anistyn, 12, and Rylen, 9, help out with the animals. The family stays busy since the petting zoo and farm function in addition to their full-time jobs. Tanner works for the Union Pacific Railroad, and Amber is a teacher for Greenbrier School District.

Amber has always loved goats, and her favorite is a Nigerian dwarf goat named Chip. The Nigerian dwarf is a miniature dairy goat breed from South Africa. They are known for their small size, colorful coats and friendly nature. They typically stand between 17 and 19 inches tall.

“Chip is very mischievous. Most goats are, but he takes it to a whole new level. He can open the petting zoo gate, and usually does it at least once during an event,” Amber said. “Since he was a bottle baby, we have pictures of him in the house wearing a diaper.”

They also have sheep, ducks, miniature Lowline Hereford calves, miniature Juliana pigs and Flemish giant rabbits. A Flemish giant is a docile breed of domestic rabbit that originated in Belgium. They can weigh up to 22 pounds and grow more than 2 feet long. The Sudduths’ pet rabbits are named Stella and Freya, and they weigh between 15 and 20 pounds. They love to be petted but not picked up and held.

The boss of all the animals is a miniature horse named Penelope. “She is very sweet and will stand there and let people brush her. She does run the pasture, though. She is 100% the queen,” Amber said.

The COVID-19 pandemic changed daily life for many people. The Sudduth family decided to try having chickens at their home. “Then we got a few more goats, and it went from there,” Amber said. That was also when she first expressed her idea of a mobile petting zoo to her husband. “He loved the idea and we decided to give it a whirl,” she said.

“We became licensed and insured and started the petting zoo in 2022.” The name Short-Legged Petting Zoo came from most of the animals being miniature.

The Sudduths take the mobile petting zoo to different events, including birthday parties, festivals and even company picnics. They also visit preschools, nursing homes and churches. All of the animals ride in the same trailer and the fence panels fit on the sides of the trailer for easy access.

“One of our favorite things about it is seeing the kids’ reactions. Most of them have never seen animals like that and it puts things in perspective,” Amber said. “The family stays busy and is willing to travel. We do a lot of events in Benton and Bryant and have done some in Russellville.”

Many of the Sudduths’ animals are bred on their own farm. Other animals born on the farm are sold to people wanting pets. “Pigs are smart and sell well as pets,” she said.

People always comment on how calm and good-natured the animals are. Amber said that comes from a lot of hands-on care that the animals receive. “We want people who visit the petting zoo to have a good experience,” she said.

Animals are a lot of responsibility and caring for livestock in bad weather is tough work. “It can be hard when it’s freezing and you have to bust the ice on their water so they can drink,” Amber said.

Anistyn and Rylen help their parents care for the animals. They each have a chore list after school. “When they get home, they go straight out to the animals because they come first. I think it teaches our kids hard work and the value of responsibility. We get compliments all the time about how hard-working and polite they are,” Amber said. “They also love learning about the animals and telling people about them.”