I had a bunch of cats when i was a kid, my brother loved taking in strays and i think my mom would put them out because they would always "run away". I don't think she did it to be a bitch, she thought she was protecting me from asthma. I've had it since birth but never once has a cat induced an attack.
When i was in middle school we had two dogs, both given to us by family. I'm not good with breeds so i cant tell you which kind the first one was, but it was big. We couldnt keep it, it was just too big and hyper to stay in our tiny apartment when it was used to running around a huge backyard where it grew up, so we gave it back. The second dog was a terrier, or something like that. It was tiny. I reluctantly became the only one who'd take care of her, and eventually she grew on me. Sadly we had to put her down cuz she was just old and got sick. Neither of those dogs though ever gave me any problems with asthma or allergies.
flash forward to last summer. I was invited up to my hot neighbors apartment for a beer (and you cant just pass up a HOT SCHOOL TEACHER). My nose started to feel funny and i began to sniffle, so no.. nothing happened (i know! BOOO!) I tried to ride it out as long as i could but either her cat or dog utterly pwned me, and possibly even cock blocked me. I left there barely able to breathe and with itchy, watery eyes.
After that i went to visit my brother in his new apartment for the first time. He has 2 chihuahas (sp?) and i never had any problems with them before that day.. Only a few mins in that apartment and i felt like i was going to die. I realized i'd never been in an enclosed area with his dogs, i'd only see them when he'd meet us at a park for a bbq/picnic.
Despite having developed the allergies later in life, turns out i was allergic to his dogs since the day he got them, i was just lucky enough to be outside when they were around.
It sucks cuz i've always wanted to get my own dog, especially if/when my gf and i move in together cuz she loves dogs.
Speaking of that, she worked at a doggy day care place a little while ago and i picked her up after her first day... my allergies reacted only seconds after she got in my car.