We heard this before, but doggone it bears repeating

Bird flu kills Thai dog, a bad sign for humans
Bloomberg News
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 11.03.2006

Bird flu killed a dog in Thailand after infecting its lungs, liver and kidneys, highlighting the potential for pets to contract the lethal virus and spread it to humans, researchers in the country said.
The dog probably picked up the H5N1 avian influenza strain from infected duck carcasses in the central province of Suphanburi two years ago, the researchers said in a study published in this month's Emerging Infectious Diseases journal. Five days after feeding on the carcasses, the dog developed high fever, panting and lethargy, and died a day later.
The dog's systemic H5N1 infection provides more evidence of the virus's ability to kill mammals. Disease trackers are monitoring for signs the virus is changing into a form more dangerous to people after it killed at least 74 people this year, as many as reported in the previous two years combined.
"Despite the low probability of H5N1 infection in domestic animals, the possibility of humans' acquiring H5N1 infection from direct contact with infected cats and dogs warrants concern and highlights the need for monitoring domestic animals during H5N1 outbreaks in the future," said the authors, including Thaweesak Songserm from Kasetsart University and Alongkorn Amonsin from Chulalongkorn University.
The H5N1 virus is known to have infected 256 people in 10 countries in the past three years, killing 152, the World Health Organization said on Oct. 31. Last year, 42 fatalities were confirmed, after 32 in 2004 and four in 2003. Millions could die if H5N1 becomes easily transmissible between people.