My friend is really terrified of dogs, puppies, cats, kittens, etc?

My cousin had the same phobia. He still has minor bouts of spazzing when he sees a dog take a crap, but it's not as severe as before. When we were kids, he would jump into my nanny's arms or cry a lot. But I find that forcing someone to face their fear won't help matters. They have to gradually learn to accept it, then maybe conquer it if they're ready. Shoving a chihuahua in her face and saying it's not harmless will only traumatize her more.