Don't let that kind of thing get to you - there's plenty of people in the world with issues pertaining to animals - to each his own....but some have very good reasons they don't like animals...
I had an experience with a neighbor - A little lost/stray dog was in my courtyard and
no one could corral her - you could tell she wanted human contact but was terrified....
Well - I went out there with treats & food and tried to get her close to me by dropping them closer and closer to her ...I was making good progress...she was about 2 feet from me ...when a neighbor started pounding on her window - of course the poor dog took off but it got worse...
She threw open her door
yelling at me to stop feeding her.... (I was kind of shocked) so I yelled back (which I never do with anyone) "
She's HUNGRY - What the bleep is your problem !!!"
I never have problems with neighbors and don't want them - so stayed to talk & explain why I was trying to catch the little dog ....she ended up telling me she had been bitten as a kid and was deathly afraid of them.....
she was very nice considering our first contact was her wanting to kick my butt (she'd have done it too - I didn't stand a chance - she was twice my size)
Edited to add - even when I walk my 2 - I keep them very close when near people and always give them the right of way - You never know who is scared of dogs and who isn't even when they're only the size of a mans shoe