The annoying thing is that even if you only slightly graze them, they still follow you around inviting you to kill them. I was actually prevented from leaving the Hissing Wastes because some August Ram had been injured and kept coming back to us, so we were permanently in combat mode.
I have to admit that some of the animals are a bit stupid because they actually wander into the line of fire when you'd think they'd run in the opposite direction at the first sign of trouble, which for any non predator would be simply seeing a group of people enter their territory, but, no, they continue on oblivious and get caught by stray arrows or staff projectiles. Then my elf tries to save the halla by stopping the wolves from attacking them and they run back into the fray. Stupid beasts (and they are meant to be intelligent).
Worst of all is when the criters get in the way of my horse. The scream as I ride over them is awful but sometimes they change direction just too quick for me to avoid them. So OP you do have my sympathy. Vivienne is at least better than Dorian in her cries. She usually says "poor thing". Knew she had a soft spot somewhere.