Why do people bring small children to animal shelters?

It is good for their immune system. The children might love animals. I did that when we were adopting a dog.

there's not exactly very many zoonotic diseases either...

rabies.. any dog suspected of rabies would be in the quarantine room tho, or destroyed.. not where the public has access

brucellosis.. spread by contact with infected bodily fluids (like semen.. unless the kids are helping collect samples, little risk there)

leptospirosis.. spread by urine, but not seen very often in dogs.. a kid is more likely to pick that up off a soda can that hasnt been washed.

parvo, kennel cough, and distemper are probably the most common diseases in a shelter situation..

guess what? None of those can be spread to humans!

Exposing kids to potential disease is what strengthens the immune system. I took my daughter public places from the time she was a newborn. She rarely gets sick, and when she does, she gets over it fairly quickly.

There is no reason why a toddler shouldn't visit a shelter. When you say "high risk", a high risk of what? Are you a veterinarian or a health care professional? It would help if you were specific.

Can't lock our children in a hermetically sealed room for their whole life. The sooner they get 'down and dirty' the sooner their immune systems will adjust to our World.

Save your lecture for the hypochondriacs in the Mental Health section..