What a precious picture! And what a precious bun!

I actually have allergies to lots of animals. Benadryl not only makes me sleepy but really cranky too, so I sympathize. Can you use something like Zyrtec or Clairitin?

I do hope you'll be able to volunteer, it sounds like a wonderful opportunity for you.

OMG. That picture of Simba may be the cutest thing I've ever seen! And he was bigger than the pup which makes the photo even better!

I also really hope you get a chance to volunteer! I think it will give you some comfort to be around other animals again since animals have such a great sense for us being upset and sad. Just think -- if you conquer your fear of riding the bus (I had the same fear until I did it and figured out it really wasn't as bad as I thought it would be!) then Simba will once again be helping you overcome something. Simba would want you to be happy and experience new things and conquer anything else you have to overcome in life. I know you can do it if you try!! The bus drivers in Pittsburgh are very nice and helpful also! If you tell them where you need to go, they'll let you know when it's about time for you to get off. Which is what I did so I wouldn't miss my stop since I didn't know Pittsburgh very well and didn't really understand how buses worked.

I second Tanlover. Don't let it get you down!

You sound my like my bf! He's allergic to every pet he's had except for Skipper. =p And I would definitely see if you can get your dr. to prescribe you Claritin or something like it. Benadryl is sort of meant to be a quick fix thing. For instance, if you get a bug bite that needs swelling reduced. If you're wanting to control your allergies, getting something like Claritin (which is a time release capsule) will you give all day relief while Benadryl will give you a few hours burst of anti-histamine and leave you drowsy. I hope everything works out for you!

I have to visit the doctor soon for a physical so I can get my drivers permit, so I'll ask about him prescribing me something new for my allergies. And the only pets I wasn't allergic to was my sisters lizard, and my two dogs, they hardly shed their fur, because they're shih tzus. I honestly think I was allergic to Simba, (along with his hay.) but yet I still let him rub against my face. (He was half cat, I swear.)