Studies have shown that the bond between people and their pets can increase fitness, lower stress, and bring happiness to their owners. But there's something else people should know: pets sometimes carry germs that can make people sick. The diseases people get from animals are known as zoonotic (zoe-oh-NOT-ic) diseases.
It is hard to know which animals could be carrying zoonotic diseases, especially since pets carrying these germs often look healthy and normal. That’s why Spokane Regional Health District’s Vector and Zoonotic Disease program offers the services listed in the following sections.
Pet stores and animal exhibitors must follow certain regulations to ensure their animals do not transmit disease to people who buy or otherwise handle them. Click on the links below to view regulations, signs and handouts for businesses.
Learn how to keep your family healthy when around pets and other animals. Go to CDC's Healthy Pets Healthy People pages.
Confront disease-carrying mosquitoes, ticks and mice during spring and summer months. Simple landscaping tricks and tips to protect home’s exterior.
