MSNBC recently published this article: Kids want a hamster? Ask your doctor first

Basically a public-information report about salmonella and its relation to ‘exotic’ pets. The article also names lizards and turtles, in addition to chicks, hedgehogs and hamsters. Strangely it left out cats.

In my opinion the report didn’t go far enough in explaining the common-sense approach to handing animals – whether they may carry salmonella or not: parental supervision, and washing hands with [preferably antibacterial] soap.

What do you think of the suggestion that children under 5 not be allowed to own a pet?