Hello guys!..... I’m back with more gists. Lol
This is part 3 of the series I started this week about my live phobias.
Today’s version is cynophobia- the fear of dogs.
When I was much younger, Dogs were my biggest phobia. I was more scared of dogs than I was of reptiles. All the dogs I ever knew seemed really aggressive. It felt like they never wanted to set their eyes on anyone else apart from their owner.
Anywhere there was a dog, there seemed to be potential danger. There were stories of people bitten by dog and had to take tetanus injection to prevent the victims from barking like dogs. I wasn’t sure and Im still not sure how true it is that one bitten by dog would start barking like dogs in no time if they don’t take tetanus injection.
What I know is that I wasn’t ready to let a carnivor devour me for any reason.
During that time, there was an old woman that owned about 5 to 7 dogs. She lived very close to the stream were we often go to fetch water.
Usually I walk to the stream with one or more people for security reasons. The dogs were always loose. The womans house was just a small hut with no fence or gate and the dogs obviously didn’t have any cage.
One day, I had to go to the stream around 12 noon. The stream in my place looks just like the one in the image below.
There was no one around to ask to come with me and there was no drop of water in the house. As I set out, I kept praying silently that the dogs wont be outside when I’m passing by. However, the dogs (note the plural) were very much outside! I continued walking, pretending to be brave and making sure that I don’t look in their direction.
Thankfully, they didn’t come after me. I got to the stream, fetched the bucket with me and started home.
As I was passing this house again, I tried my brave pretence technique but unfortunately for me, I slipped!
I managed to save the bucket of water but my slippers got cut. Now, this was when the real drama began. I needed to lift the bucket back on my head. It was too big for me to lift on my own so I had to stand there and wait for someone to come by and help. I tried avoiding to look at the dogs but they weren’t comfortable with my presence apparently. They started barking one after the other. I was so scared but I didn’t move because I knew running was more dangerous for me. They barked for few moments before one of them came after me!
That’s when I went on my heels. I ran as fast as I could with the dog on my tail. The dog was so close to me, I could feel it but I kept running at my highest speed until I got to where people were then the dog turned and went back.
I sat down for some minutes to get my strength back and was so grateful that the dog didn’t bite me but I realized later that it gave me a scratch.
And of course as you can guess, this experience intensified my fear of Dogs.
Today, however, I can't say I have much phobia for dogs anymore because few years back A dog made me feel so much love and changed my dog orientation for good.
I have decide to dedicate a whole post to tell the story of this loving dog I eventually encountered.
Watch out for the post after the live aversion series.
But for now, lets discuss in the comment section.
Have you ever been chased by a dog?
What was it like?
Note that any picture not cited was taken by me.
Thanks for reading through.
Bye for now.