This might not be applicable for most cases of locally-produced hides, but here in NYC we have had a very serious experience recently regarding artists using animal hides.

A musician originally from Africa imported a bunch of hides from there for use with his instruments. Apparently they contained the anthrax virus. He got seriously sick and his entire apartment building had to be disinfected.

After the death of several people in the Northeast, as a result of the anthrax-bearing letter attack following 9/11, we tend to take this virus far more seriously.