Not all the dog news is good news. Researchers at the University of South Florida in Tampa report that methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus or MRSA can be transmitted in dog or cat bites. The infection is often passed from animal to human, though it can also be transmitted the other way as well. Pet owners need to recognize that bites may be a source of MRSA infection and must be treated appropriately by a health professional.
[The Lancet Infectious Diseases, July 2009]
http://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(09)70110-0/fulltext