I needed a refill on my asthma medicine. I couldn't get in to see my regular doctor, so I went to a walk-in clinic. The doctor asked me the standard questions: do I smoke, how long have I had asthma, how well controlled is it, etc.
But then he asked one that most doctors shy away from. 'You haven't got anything stupid, like pets, have you'?
I have asthma, eczema, and allergies. And I have two dogs.
He rolled his eyes and waved his hand at me dismissively. He wrote me the prescription, and left the room without another word or even a glance. He'd clearly written me off as some kind of self-deluded moron.
The truth is even more shameful. I'm not a moron. I know full well that my dogs may contribute to my allergies. But they're just about my only friends. They're my family. Without them my life would be devoid of warmth, affection, and meaning.