Love is a four legged word.
Wednesday, February 4th, 2009
Greetings! Thank you for stopping by!
I’ve had more 6th house issues going on over the last month – health, service, and animals.
I had my first follow-up appointment for my thyroid on Jan. 12th. The moon was conjunct my Ascendant and moving out of aspect from opposing transiting Mercury in my 6th house of health. Everything went very well.
I knew the medicine had been working as my hair has started growing back! I began seeing new hair growth as early as December and I felt the difference in my physical and psychological health within the first week. I am happy to be regaining my health and my hair!
My doctor lowered the dose of my hormones, instead of taking them three times a day; I’m down to twice a day. I’m expecting him to lower the dose further this month and by summer (hopefully) I will go into remission without it. That’s the plan at this point.
These hormones are a temporary fix, he made that clear. They cause many side effects which I haven’t had, but long term use can cause cancers. Also, we don’t want my thyroid hormones to drop too low because then we would be trading hyperthyroid for hypothyroid disease. Not an option and I hope it never becomes one.
We did get our new wood floors; the work started New Years Day. I chose the Holidays because the kids were out of school and Allen was on vacation. At least I would have the help I needed at home. The dining room had ceramic tile which the guys said wouldn’t be hard to get out. They were going to bust it up and sweep it out.
In typical Mercury Rx style we ran into a problem. The guys said it was typical for them because they always get jobs that require more than they anticipate. I told them about the problems that we already had with this house so it was no wonder that the ceramic tiles had been glued to the sub floor! The entire floor and to be cut out and replaced! It looked like sheets of concrete that they were carrying out of here and there was so much dust that the fire alarm kept going off! I knew removing the carpeting would cause some dust, but I never thought everything in the house would be covered in a layer of it from cutting out a floor! Thankfully I had my couches covered. A three day job turned into a week….go figure!
I still have to call them back because we had a mishap when they shellacked the stairs. I made sure the downstairs door was shut the entire time because we have animals. The day that they put down the second coat of shellac my cat was crying here in my office. I was petting his head asking him what was wrong when I realized he shouldn’t have been up here! Someone left the downstairs door open and Azriel came up the stairs!! He was not happy about it either! LOL There are kitty paw prints on them as I type this and little paw prints on the pre-finished landing. So, we still have to have that fixed.
The floors look beautiful, they are more maintenance because we have so many animals in the house, but they are easy to clean. Now I see what was getting buried in all that carpet!
Taken in the process of getting the house back in order, still had a lot of dust.
The second week of January I received an email from a Animal Rescue group asking if I could pick up a Jack Russell and her puppies and take them to Russell Rescue in Tennessee. I emailed back to find out where they were and made arrangements with the rescue home in Tennessee to take them on Sunday.
When I saw their picture I knew I had to act fast, which meant I would need to keep them for a few days. I have not fostered dogs because we have three of our own and three cats too!
My daughter and her boyfriend (Ricky) were here so I asked if they could help me figure out where to keep them. We put our heads together and decided to build a make-shift kennel in the garage. Ricky went to buy the chicken wire and I pulled a baby gate from storage. Our garage has been framed out for walls and closet spaces, but the walls aren’t finished on one side. We moved some things around (it’s full of storage), Ricky stapled two sides with the chicken wire and we put a gate on the front. We added blankets, a dog bed, puppy pads, and food. This would be there 4×4 ft sleeping area for the Mama and her babies.
The dogs were in a small town about an hour from me. They were at a dog pound where two prisoners from the jail next door kept watch over the animals. Really! I was told that the woman that arranged this rescue is allowed to rescue 10 dogs a month if she can place them. I was told that the smallest puppy in the picture had passed away that morning, they said she was just too weak to survive. Allen was worried about the little girl because she was very frail.
Mama and JRT
They were very nice and put the dogs in my car because they smelled so bad. The entire drive back the puppies cried as they scratched like crazy in their crate. First order of business was a bath. That’s when I knew something more than living in urine was wrong with these dogs.
Mommy
Mommy had sores and a rash all over; the puppies were so thin and had the rash too. They were all missing a lot of hair. After they ate we sat with them in the garage as I have several chairs out there and we have heat. Mommy jumped right in my lap and claimed me as her own! These dogs were miserable scratching so I promised Mommy that she would get cortisone shot the next day.
Mina
When I said it was time to go potty Mommy ran straight out the door, the only one that really didn’t want to go out was the little girl. She was skin and bones so we would carry her out. They all were underfed and itching. My husband, Allen, didn’t think she was going to make it. They did not cry at all that night; they tucked into to Mommy and fell off to sleep.
Lil Ricky
I called my Vet and told them the situation and asked if I could get a discount since they were rescues, hoping maybe he would waive the office visit. I make donations and I have been feeding a stray for several months. I buy her food, chews and bowls so I need a little help when I can get it in order to help other dogs.
DARLIN, the stray
It was surgery day so they asked me to drop the dogs off and they would work them in. The dogs had Sarcoptic mange (something I knew nothing about), but I do now and it is contagious to other dogs and humans. I think I had some on my side; I used tea tree oil which dried it up and stopped the itching. The entire life cycle of this mite is 21 days and it cannot survive on a human, although you can keep getting it if you are in contact with it. It’s gone and I’m fine.
The Vet did fecals to check for parasites, they were treated for mange, given an antibiotic for any secondary infection, the puppies had their first round of shots, and Mommy had her overgrown nails clipped. They estimated their age to be about 9 weeks. They were so happy to see me that afternoon!
Guess what happened with their vet bill? My vet contacted an Animal Sanctuary that paid for everything except the donation I made on their bill! I was overcome with emotion when they told me. The Vet assistant (Terri) had tears in her eyes as she handed me her email address and asked me to let her know how they were. I have. We called the Mama “Mommy”, the little girl “Mina” (meaning Lil girl), and the boy, “Lil Ricky”. I told him he was my lil bomber pilot. I made sweaters from fuzzy socks to keep them warm while they enjoyed a little sunshine and the yard.
new sweater
Gosh, we fell in love with those dogs and they loved us right back! Lil Ricky was using the puppy pads within a few hours and they used them in their kennel. Not once did they mess up their bedding. Mina had some food aggression, but I’m the same way - don’t put your fork on my plate without asking, that’s just rude! Lil Ricky was the voice of the three, but only when he wanted to play and they wanted to sleep. Mommy, she was a joy to have here!
We spent the next few days treating them as our own, in fact ours were a little neglected having to stay upstairs because of the mange being contagious. Bonnie, my own JRT, wanted to be near more than my other two dogs so she spent most of the time lying on the couch in the den while these dogs would lie in our lap. We sat in the recliner together and watched Animal Planet and Mommy snuggled so close you would have thought she lived with me her whole life. We discovered right away that Mommy was a lap dog and housebroken! I just can’t imagine how they ended up in such bad condition and not wanted.
In five days they had captured our hearts. Ashton and Ricky said they had us wrapped around their little paws that first night, I know that was right! Ashton and Ricky tried to convince me to keep the dogs a month, until they were strong and had fully recovered from the skin condition. I made it clear that I would have if I could depend on everyone at home to help me, but with them in school and working part-time and me having to spend time with the website. I knew that would mean that I would be responsible for all of the dogs (6 total) most of the time they were here and I couldn’t do it myself and run my business. I wish I could have.
Playtime
Allen got up early Sunday morning and went downstairs to let them out for me. When I came down with my coffee we could hardly speak, we just enjoyed our last hours with the dogs and didn’t talk much. We both knew how hard it was going to be letting them go.
We stopped once for a potty break and the pups did great, Mommy was distracted by the leash and the smells. Mary Ruth was there waiting when we arrived. We bought dog food which we unloaded first as I told Mary Ruth about our week and their health. I kissed Mommy and hugged her tight before I put her in Mary Ruth’s car. I was crying like I had to give away my own dog! I felt like I did! Allen was touched too.
The transiting moon was conjunct my natal 4th house cusp and square transiting Mercury/Jupiter conjunct Saturn in my 6th house of small animals. My service was finished, it was time to separate and break away from that emotional bond I had formed with these dogs in my home. I knew it was going to be tough, but by the next day when the Moon was conjunct natal Neptune I was sad and emotional all day. It took me all week to get out of that funk I was feeling after having to let them go. I wish I was born Aquarian so I could detach and let go!
Mary Ruth told me that she had a family interested in the little girl (Mina) which made us very happy. She would have been 10 weeks old and she was closet to Mommy. I actually thought lil Ricky would be the first adopted out as he had just the kind of markings I would want when and if I got another Jack Russell terrier. But I couldn’t take one without the others, nor could I take a puppy and not Mommy after the way she fit in around here.
I do have concerns about two females living together since Bonnie is already a dominant female type. We had one incident where Bonnie jumped up in the chair and laid down at my feet with her chew, and then Mommy wanted to smell what Bonnie brought over. As soon as Bonnie growled we separated them. Oh, and Allen was sitting in the chair with Bonnie when Mommy ran over and sat in his lap to get closer. Bonnie immediately started growling so I called Mommy back to me and she listened and ran right back to her spot in my lap. Other than those two incidents Bonnie played (or tried to) and got along fine with all of them. It was so great seeing Mommy keep up with Bonnie as they ran around the back yard!
It’s typical for a JRT to claim someone in the house as they can be possessive of everything around them, especially their owners. Bonnie is well socialized, but in her eyes she’s owned us for two years now. She use to try and fight with our blue heeler when we first got her and she was 4 months old! “Big dog in a little body” is the perfect description for this breed.
My Bonnie
I’m planning on visiting Russell Rescue in about a month, so it will be interesting to see if they have been adopted or how they have adjusted to their new environment. The puppies are adorable, but Mommy having to wait for a forever home concerns me. She is about 3 yrs old, housebroken, obedient, affectionate, and deserves a loving home. She has probably been spayed by now.
.
We need homes - Puppies were adopted, Mommy needs a home. I loved this girl!
This 6th house progressed moon in Capricorn is hard!! But, I would do it all over again, now I know I can foster short term when necessary. Until that time comes I will continue to support rescues in any way I can.
Each month I will donate a Kundra bed to a random animal rescue, not breed specific because every animal deserves a soft place to rest. If you haven’t tried a personal horoscope report, please consider one for yourself or a friend of astrology. The Kundra beds are not cheap. Or, use that money and buy a large bag of dog food and donate it to your local shelter. I promise you; every small act of kindness will be rewarded. I’ve seen it in my own life and I’m not talking specifically about animal rescues, I’m talking about helping anyone that is less fortunate than you are. BTW, all reports get a free Lunar Return for the month ahead, and everyone gets a free birth chart…always have and always will.
Ashton just came home as I was writing this. I told her how I was writing a blog post that covers the last month…my health, the floors, and the rescues. We talked about how strong these Animal Rescuers are and how dedicated they are to their cause. I wish I were that strong, to be able to do what they do. But I have been told by several women, that if they don’t move on after saving a dog, then they can’t keep helping other dogs. I’m sure it’s the same with any species. Save and Rescue the ones we have, alter them to control the population (and how many are killed) - why doesn’t that make sense to so many people?
Ashton wants to be a High School English teacher. Teaching kids is something I could never do. I would sit home worrying about my students at night, and swear no-one could take better care of them than I could. I would want to keep my students! I’m sure there are teachers that can relate to this too!
This last series of eclipses that affected my health also influenced Ashton. It’s been 18 years since her father died before she was two years old. She has a few tattoos and told me several years ago about the tattoo she would get someday in memory of her dad. She started it in December and said it was too painful to finish at the time. Mercury stationed direct Sunday and she had the color added. I’m not keen on the idea of my daughter having tattoos, but how could I ever get upset about this?
Tattoo
This is one she’ll be proud of.
Be blessed my friends. I hope you all have a great month!
