When I was little, my world revolved around a small gated community where I lived with my parents, grandmother, and older sisters. It was a cozy place, filled with laughter and games, where the neighborhood children gathered every day to enjoy imaginary adventures and endless fun. Before Monstrico, the small, ugly, and hairy black dog, I had been enjoying my childhood, oblivious to the fears that would soon haunt me.

Every time Monstrico escaped from his owners' house, panic would sweep through the neighborhood. Someone, usually one of the older kids , would shout , "Monstrico is out!" It was as if they had announced the arrival of the apocalypse. In a matter of seconds, the playground would turn into chaos, with small bodies running in all directions, desperately seeking hiding places.

Little did I know that I would soon have a close encounter with the beast that terrorized our neighborhood, an encounter that would mark the beginning of a long and painful trauma that would haunt me for years.

It was a sunny day like any other in our small community. The day had started so normally, with no hint of the terror that was about to unfold. Suddenly, the sentence that we all feared tore through the air: "Monstrico is out!"

In an instant, the playground transformed into chaos. Children who had been playing moments before were now running in all directions, desperately seeking a safe place. I, confused and frightened, remained paralyzed for a moment, not knowing what to do.

My short legs wouldn't allow me to run as fast as the others, and before I could react, I saw Monstrico running towards me. The playful atmosphere that had been present all day had vanished in seconds, replaced by a palpable fear.

Terror seized me when I realized that I had become Monstrico's target. My little feet stumbled as I tried to escape, but the dog was much faster. With my heart pounding like crazy, I found myself cornered in the playground. 

Monstrico was getting closer and closer, with his eyes fixed on me, and growling. I had been screaming for help, but it seemed that everyone had disappeared. At that moment, I felt a fear I had never experienced before. The sunny day that had started so innocently had turned into a nightmare, and I was living the most terrifying moment of my young life.

From that day onwards, a profound change had taken place within me. The fear I had experienced during the encounter with Monstrico had taken root deep in my being, spreading like a dark shadow over my perception of the world. Dogs, which had previously been simply part of my life, had suddenly become sources of uncontrollable terror.

As the days passed, my fear had been evolving and expanding alarmingly. It was no longer just dogs that terrified me; gradually, I had begun to fear all animals. Cats, birds, and even the small insects that I had once observed with curiosity, now caused me uncontrollable anxiety.

My world, which had once been a place of discovery and wonder, had been drastically reduced. My parents had been watching with concern as their daughter , who had once been a cheerful and curious child, now lived in a constant state of alertness and fear, reacting with terror to the slightest animal presence.

The trauma of that day had not only robbed me of my peace but had also stolen the joy and wonder that animals had once brought to my life. The carefree child I had been was now constantly on edge, my young mind struggling to process the trauma it had endured.

As the years had passed, my family had been tirelessly seeking ways to help me overcome my fear of animals. After much discussion and consideration, they had decided to try a tactic they believed might work: adopting puppies.