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I really don't see why some people wash their hands after petting their clean furry friends. Doing so, and then eating never hurts me, so why care? Is it normal that I don't?
If I had a dog I might be less "ewww" about this than I am, but dude... think of all the bacteria...
believe me, if you had a dog you'd probably be even more eww about it. I have 2 and they absolutely stink. And the hair!! And they lick up piss. I can't imagine touching them and then not washing my hands. After stroking one of my dogs afterwards I sniffed my hand and it smelt like a corpse and even my brother agrees
I don't usually wash my hands after petting my cat, but I always wash my hands after I go to the restroom, and before I handle food.
I'm too freaking stoned and need to go to sleep. I read this first as, "I don't bother rubbing my balls after petting my dog"
I mainly do it because I'm allergic to dogs and I know I'll suffer if I pet one of our dogs and then put my fingers near my eyes. (We only have dogs because my wife likes the damn beasts.)
In any case, dogs' coats are not clean. Given the chance, many - if not most - dogs will roll around in the smelliest stuff they can find.
It's normal for you to do it, but it isn't to ask why others bother to do it.
Dogs and cats can't technically carry harmful bacteria or parasites, but they very rarely ever infect humans in this manner. Even amongst those who don't wash their hands.
However, other pets desperately need you to maintain hand washing due to the illnesses they can transfer to you. Pet birds and rodents in particular can carry some pretty nasty diseases.
I never bother washing my hands after petting my cat. He keeps himself clean, he hasn't made me sick yet :)