Phobias are very common – it is believed that at least one person in 10 is affected at some time in their life. And phobias about animals are among the commonest of all. Pigeons, cats and dogs can be a particular problem, because there are so many of them around. A severe phobia about them can be as disabling as any anxiety disorder. Even fear of rats, frogs and snakes, which most people seldom encounter, can be the cause of much misery in certain circumstances. Some people become almost prisoners in their own homes for fear of common creatures like cats and dogs, pigeons and other birds. Some people are convinced that they will have a panic attack and lose control if they even see film of the creature they fear on TV.