Most of what is referenced here can be summed up as WASH and DRY YOUR HANDS properly. Less than 10% of children wash their hands every time they come into contact with their pet or another animal.
Did you know that the NSW Dept. of Health Infection Control Guidelines include dogs? That means ANY dog can go into health facilities (to provide therapy or visit its owner) if the Nursing Unit Manager (NUM) says so and the DOH guidelines are followed. Certain sterile or respiratory units may need to be restricted, but most general medical units have a much larger risk of infection than any dog could ever create - assuming of course there is no human contact with dog faeces.
Zoonosis refers to diseases humans can contract from other animals. Due to our hot and/or dry climate, our absence of rabies and our robust AQIS quarantine system, Australia has a lower domestic pet zoonosis risk than many other countries. Comments here are exclusive of farm animals. Although animals can carry or transmit disease, you are more likely to get infections from contaminated food or water than from your pet or another animal you encounter. The occurrence of zoonotic disease is uncommon. Contact is preventable by taking a number of taking a number of precautions including: practicing good personal hygiene providing prompt and effective first aid treatment to cuts and scratches controlling rodents worming pets There is a public stink about dog poo in public spaces; although socially unacceptable (even if next to a discarded plastic bottle, straw and cigarette butt), the health risk is minimal. There is little risk from 'fresh' dog poo as a gestation period for zoonotic diseases is required. Our hot or dry climate reduces this risk. Even in wet areas such as northern Australia, the warmth is not conducive to the development of pathogens that present a zoonosis risk. RSPCA Victoria - Zoonosis Fact sheet, NSW Agriculture - Hydatid
Download the 2008 report prepared for Canberra Urban Parks (pdf 200K0. All you need to know about dog poo. The report concludes: the risks to humans of dog faeces on sporting fields do not justify the banning of dogs from these areas, and recommend that the government take other measures to minimise the small risks which do exist.
Although animals can carry or transmit disease, you are more likely to get infections from contaminated food or water than from your pet or another animal you encounter (reference). Research has shown that people who own pets are healthier and live longer.
NO DOGS ALLOWED: I’M ALLERGIC. We’ve heard it over and over. When we advise these hyper-vigilant people (often service providers to the general public such as hoteliers) that the allergen from dogs is saliva, they then play dumb with phrases such as ‘how was I to know’? (To which we suggest that engaging brain before opening mouth may reduce spreading urban myths). An allergen that is saliva (in comparison to hair or fur) can avoided by not having contact. No contact with dog results in no allergic reaction in all but the most severe cases. The major dog allergen, called Can f1, is primarily found in dog saliva. Unlike cat allergen, which is found in the dander from sebaceous glands in the skin, the skin of dogs does not appear to be a major source of Can f1. Dog allergy? For people of normal health: No contact = no allergy Dogs Cause Asthma This is simply incorrect. Asthma is a disease of hyper-sensitively in the airways. It can be triggered by an allergy, and that allergy can be dander, but that doesn't cause asthma. Other triggers of Asthma include air conditioning, air pollution, bushfires, chemicals, colds and flu, dust mites, emotions, exercise, food, heating, food, hormones, medications, mould, pollen, sex, smoking and weather! People who live with some sort of allergy (40% of Australians) have to manage their condition on a day to day basis. 80% of people with asthma have some sort of allergy, which requires day to day management as do the numerous other asthma triggers. In summary, it is easier to make bold, unsupported claims and follow those with policy decisions, than it is to use a scientific method which delivers a logical outcome. It is our job as responsible pet owners to work within the environment of 'rhetoric' we live in. Dispel the myths, manage the risks, worm your pet and respect people who don't like pets or are conditioned by culture or paranoid parents to be fearful, or adverse to pet.

Each day health facilities host to therapeutic and companion animals. Animals visit older people in nursing homes, young people in paediatric wards, trauma victims in acute care wards, and people under care in mental health and palliative care services. They provide comfort, entertainment, distraction, solace and a unique form of interaction. The benefits of these visits are well established and comprehensively documented. NSW Health 2006
	...
A pet, especially a dog, can be a 24 hour by 7 day health care provider. Barking Mad frequently receives stories from people about how their dog saved their life, how their pet got them through a time when they were lost and struggling emotionally and how a pet was the bridge of healing.
About one in five Australian adults experience mental illness in any year. About one in ten (2.1 million people) suffer from a long term mental health issue. Mental health, including suicide is an major public health issue. If a pet helps to keep you well and out of harms way, and doesn't cause a nuisance for others, it's a virtual health care worker. It is vital as well as economically sensible that we recognise the health benefit pets in public policy.
Mental Health Statictics, (PDF 80K)
You need Adobe® Acrobat® Reader to view the PDFs. Get Adobe® Acrobat® Reader.
page in development, 14 March 09