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This study evaluated the animal presence in dwellings and the risk for transmission of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, 2006. A case-control study was conducted by means of dwelling visits, direct interviews, and image register in the houses. The risk estimates were produced comparing the dwelling condition between two groups: 1) 82 human cases of VL recorded in 2004; and 2) 164 controls (neighbors of the first). The cases presented a higher proportion in the animal presence compared to controls. Using an unconditional logistic regression, it was selected the presence of ducks with an OR of 4.18 (CI 95% - 0.74 to 23.32); rodents with an OR of 1.81 (CI 95% - 0.96 to 3.39); birds with an OR of 1.56 (CI 95% - 0.90 to 2.69), and chicken with an OR of 1.47 (CI 95% - 0.74 to 2.90). The owners of dogs were 2.17 more likely to have VL than those who did not have dogs, and this estimate increased with the number of dogs in the house. For those who had only one dog, the OR was 1.87, while for those who owned two dogs at home, the OR increased to 3.36; when compared to people who did not own those animals.