Weird crashes on one char related to pets

[Kirdan]

This has been driving me nuts for a couple weeks, hoping someone here can help me figure it out.

On one of my characters (a ranger), my client freezes up when I get into what seems to be combat logging range of a pet or wolf form player while they're in combat.

This didn't start happening until recently, I believe the first instance of it that I noticed was on 1/22 and I've been playing the char for months. I began to notice that there always seemed to be a pet on my screen as I crashed, so I did some testing. At a distance, whether they're in combat or not, I don't crash. Up close and with them out of combat, I don't crash. Up close and with them in combat, I crash. I've reproduced it in multiple zones. I have not been able to reproduce it on other characters. My first thought was an issue with logging, but I can reproduce it with log off. My next thought is something to do with the models and their animations - like a combat animation that only shows when I'm close enough? I'm not sure about that. I've tried a fresh install of the client, basic textures, HD textures, none of them seem to be affecting the crashes.