A lot of people in the world don't understand furries or know what they are. However, a large portion of those people are capable of understanding furries if given enough time and a good explanation about our interests/behavior.
My mate didn't know or understand anything about furries when I met him. Now he likes and is a part of the fandom.
Just give people a chance and don't be too quick to assume they think you're too "weird" or something just because they may not immediately understand you. Work with them, and they'll work with you.
And if all else fails, date a furry.