From Fear to Furry Friends

Much to the dismay of my friends and family, I grew up with a paralyzing fear of dogs. This was strange because I didn’t know many. My few interactions with them were characterized by nothing but canine affection, so there was no explanation for my phobia.  

When I was in elementary school, my next-door neighbor had a Golden Retriever named Mable and a Labrador named Duke. They were well-behaved and they liked children. My younger brother went to walk them occasionally. Despite this, you could not have paid me to pet them. I had independently decided that they had a thirst for violence and must be avoided. At only seven years old, I was completely set in my ways.  

This fear continued into my teen years. Unfortunately, all my closest friends owned adorable canine monsters. The disappointment on their faces when I broke the news about my phobia was heartbreaking. They would say, “I promise he’s friendly” and “She just gets over-excited greeting new guests.” Despite their efforts, I did not overcome my fear.  

Eventually, my friends and I reached an understanding. While I respected their dogs as members of the family, I would freeze and panic if one came near me. They agreed to keep their pets away. This arrangement worked perfectly until my mother got involved. 

At her core, my mother is a helpful, kind person. She hates to see anyone in distress. She also tends to recruit her children to aid her friends with whatever they need, no matter what we say. So, when she found out that my neighbor’s dog sitter had canceled on them, she immediately said, “Oh, Mei Li can help out.”  

This was completely unthinkable to 14-year-old Mei Li. But my mother’s commitment to being a helpful neighbor far outweighed what she probably felt was my immature fear of man and woman’s best friend. With no hesitation, she ignored my cowardice and volunteered me for the position, which is how I was contracted to watch my neighbor’s dogs for a week.

When day one finally came, I entered the house with utmost caution. Thankfully, I had been briefed on my subjects beforehand. The dogs were called Nash and Jordan. They were named after Billy Ray Cyrus’ hometown and one of the greatest athletes on earth. My instructions were simple. They needed their food bowl refilled, their water replaced, and to be taken outside for half an hour every day.  

Armed with this knowledge, I prepared for the worst. But when I arrived, I found both dogs lounging peacefully in their beds. As they stumbled over to greet me, I discovered they were extremely tiny and quite old. Despite my fear of the species, I knew there was zero chance either of them could hurt me. 

Furthermore, they were sweet. Nash and Jordan were loveable and elderly dogs. They liked to lick my hands, sit in my lap, and stand patiently when being petted. My fears entirely dissipated, and I grew to adore them. I found myself excited to dog-sit every day over that week. When it came to an end, I was sad to say goodbye to my little companions.    

Dog-sitting Nash and Jordan cured me of my crazy phobia. I am now a proud dog person. When I go over to friends’ houses, I can sit with, cuddle, and pet their dogs without hesitation. I recognize how important they are to people’s lives and American culture as a whole. I can’t wait to have one of my own someday.

I’m grateful that through my one-month internship at Vizion Group PR, I have the opportunity to express my newfound love of dogs. I get to work on projects surrounding the National Dog Show that will take place this November 16 and 17 at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, PA (http://www.nds.nationaldogshow.com/). Not only that, I’m also excited to watch The National Dog Show Presented by Purina broadcast that will air on Thanksgiving Day.  

Next to dog-sitting two of the most precious canines you could ever meet, watching the Thanksgiving Day Special is one of the best ways to admire and experience the wonderfulness of dogs.