Rapid Responses to:

EDUCATION AND DEBATE: June McNicholas, Andrew Gilbey, Ann Rennie, Sam Ahmedzai, Jo-Ann Dono, and Elizabeth Ormerod Pet ownership and human health: a brief review of evidence and issues BMJ 2005; 331: 1252-1254 [Full text]

Rapid Responses: Submit a response to this article

Rapid Responses published:

Australians and pet ownership

Frank Shann   (25 November 2005)

Australians and pet ownership 25 November 2005
Frank Shann, Director of Intensive Care Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne 3052, Australia Send response to journal: Re: Australians and pet ownership	Many years ago, my uncle worked in the Australian High Commission in London. He told me that the High Commission received a letter from a woman who had immigrated from the United Kingdom to Australia. She thanked the High Commission for helping her to immigrate, and stated that she was very glad she had come to live in Australia. It was a wonderful place, except for one serious problem - Australians treated their dogs like animals. There are clearly major cultral differences in the behaviour of pet owners, which may influence the effect of pets on human health. Competing interests: None declared