Yes. These disease are known as zoonoses. In New Zealand we are fortunate not to have many of the more serious tropical diseases commonly found elsewhere. There are still significant health hazards. The most significant are:

• Parasites such as worms, mites (scabies) and fleas
• Ringworm (fungal skin infection)
• Campylobacter (diarrhoea)
• Leptospirosis (Weill's disease)
• Psittacosis
• Cat scratch fever
• Tuberculosis
• Yersiniosis (plague)
• Toxoplasmosis - can be dangerous to pregnant women, occasionally causing abortion. This is rare.
• Cryptosporidium

Vets are trained to recognise and prevent transmission of these diseases to people. People are not only infected by direct contact with infected animals, but are commonly infected by eating or drinking contaminated animal products.