I was writing with some friends this morning at the Pacific Grove Natural History museum. they were talking so lovingly about their dogs. I held back until one woman said her mom got poison oak from dogs. I jumped in and said me too. I am afraid of poison oak and of dogs carrying poison oak on their fur.

As a child I was hospitalized with poison oak. I learned to be wary of dogs and cats. I never was able to develop a good pet relationship.