My Terrible Chemistry With Dogs

My hands had just recovered from my last shot of rabies, but here I was sitting in the hospital’s waiting room waiting for the next and the third injection in the last twenty-one days.

It all began with my exam results. Though I had managed to score well in most subjects my marks in my third language exams weren’t really good. I was worried about the reaction at home. With all this going on in my head I forgot to take the ‘dog free route’. Instead, I ended up in a battle scene between a dog and five monkeys.

The dog seemed to have lost it as it turned away from the monkeys. The frustrated dog now turned towards me. Remembering my elders' advice I did not run instead I stood my ground like a brave warrior. My heart skipped a beat as the dog ran towards me. I screamed! The dog had bitten me!

So much for all my brave thoughts, I thought as I ran away from the dog towards a bystander. The kind lady took me home. My mother promptly took me to the hospital where the doctor delivered my fate. 7 shots of rabies and 1 of tetanus. On the way home with a tetanus shot in one hand and rabies in another I was reminded of my terrible history with dogs. This dog did nothing but increase my phobia of dogs which, I now know, is known as cynophobia.

Well, at least you now know, that not running when a dog runs towards you is not a good idea. The colony where I live is a haven for dogs as they are well fed by people who claim to be animal lovers but do nothing else for their welfare.

When I was younger I was out playing with one of my friends in the evening. My friend picked up a stone a scared the dog away. I was impressed by the way she scared it away. However, our happiness was short-lived as the humiliated dog came back with four to five other dogs. I was chased by three or four of them before I was rescued by my neighbor. My friend was smart enough to run towards the opposite side where there were a few people. I never stepped out of my house to play after it got dark ever again.

I always love spending my holidays at my grandparent’s house in Kerala. It is a beautiful place with no stray animals in general. Unfortunately, my cousin Appu who is an animal lover decided to adopt a black hairy puppy, which he named Tippu. In one year the puppy had reached its full size. Tippu chased anyone who passed by their gate whenever it was untied. Another cousin of mine and I were chased for around a hundred meters by the dog before Appu's elder sister came to our rescue.

I still don’t know why dogs tend to take an immediate dislike towards me. I never have the slightest intention to hurt them and all I am concerned about is getting as far away from them as possible.