I don't think it's a geek thing, I think it's incredibly interesting and very useful to know and I thank you for it. :)

My best friend works in a nursing home, so he has all sorts of intriguing tales of Altzheimer's patients.

I know if I were a small scared child, I'd respond more to an animal than a person too. But then, I've always had this strange, irrational fear of being abducted or kidnapped or murdered. I'd say it was because I was mugged as a teen, but I can vividly remember hiding on the floor of my mom's car whenever she would duck into a store and leave me in the car. I'd lock all the doors and hide, for fear someone was going to snatch me. Maybe it's a past life thing or something (although I'm not totally sure how I feel about reincarnation, it's just the only reason I can think of for my fear)...

Your icon is great, too...btw. :)