| Sumario: | The article discusses the health problems caused by the urban population of pet and stray dogs in the U.S. Diseases and injuries previously associated with occupations involving animal contact are occurring in the general population. As an example, leptospirosis is traditionally listed as a disease of animal-related occupations, but in 1971, 63 percent of the cases were associated with dogs. Rabies is another example of a dog contact problem. The social structure of dogs includes groups or packs. About one-half of all dogs observed on the streets are in the company of other dogs. Behaviors such as chasing and biting people, barking and disrupting trash are therefore more of a health problem than would be the case if dogs were solitary.
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