Fear of Animals

A dog comes toward you, and your pulse spikes. A cat brushes your ankle, and you pull your leg away. An insect buzzes through the room, and your whole body tenses. Or it's more diffuse: you start avoiding before the animal is even there. You give parks a wide berth where dogs run free. You don't visit farms. You don't want to stay overnight at a friend's place if they have pets. The fear doesn't come from the animal itself — it's already there before the animal appears.

Rationally, this often makes no sense. You know the little dachshund won't eat you. You know the spider in the corner is harmless. You know the cow in the field means you no harm. And yet your body says something different: move away, flee, protect yourself. As though what stands before you is not the animal, but something much larger.