Any reasons why I get sad when I see a person in an animal costume?

Seems as though you might have a condition similar to anthropopseudodoraphobia. That is the fear of someone dressed in an animal costume, but that includes mascots. I may well need to ask you for further details, but let me think on it for a bit. There is a lot going on right now of a personal nature. Not a really close relative, but a family member ped away. My mom is closer, and she needs me at irregular intervals and it has me distracted.