2026-07-31
I've managed to make it to my mid-20s without ever petting a dog, or interacting with one in basically any way. I never grew up with dogs, and as a child I had a fear of them. As I got older I became unafraid, but still tried to avoid them.
This morning, though, I was walking a footpath beside a brook when I encountered an old lady walking 2 dogs, without leashes, who approached me, barking. I tried to walk around in the hope that they'd avoid me, but they persisted. The lady then had me pet them and feed them, and I was pleasantly surprised by how friendly they were. They stopped barking when I started petting them. This is the final nail in the coffin of my fear of dogs.
I still prefer cats though. Maybe I'm a Derse dreamer.
:3