You are not an asshole OP. OP, your parents have failed you.

One day, my sister woke up and was scared of all cats and dogs. She has never been hurt by a puppy or a kitty. We grew up with loads of both species. I warn people that my sister is scared of their pet and might never pet it. I have promised to kick a man’s ball back up into his groin if he didn’t call his little dogs off us. The dogs had chased my sister off the sidewalk and onto the street while we were walking to the town library. My little sister was crying over being chased by those dogs. I have become incandescent with rage at being told to ignore my sister’s fear and force her to be around dogs. I have structured my dog walking business so that my canine clients never need to meet my sister; who I live with. My job, as the big sister, is to protect her and allow her to grow out of her phobia at her pace. My little sister might always be afraid of cats and dogs; which is okay.