Dogs again

[emiliana2010]

Hi everybody,
I came to the I Ching with a question related to dogs.
THE PREQUEL - I became acquainted with two German shepard (I actually love them and secretly kind-of adopted them), a female and a male, belonging to someone who, by my book, takes poor care of them. He thinks that "they are animals, nature takes care", so his dogs are skinny, dirty and eat their own feces.
I interact with them through the fence of the place where they live.
By the number of ribs I can count under their dirty fur I know that they don't eat enough, so almost daily I bring them food and take care of whatever dermatitis (due to the cloud of flies covering their fur during the summer months) and eye infection they have.
Sometime ago the male died and has been replaced by a new dog, same race, eight years old.
THE SITUATION. Now, a long story to get to this point: few days ago the guy told me that he expects the female to get pregnant because, contrary to the old one, the new male is young enough to do it. But the last time the female was pregnant she didn't have milk for the puppies (how it comes I'm not surprised?) so they died. I told him that if the situation comes, he could bottle-feed the puppies himself, or that I could do it. He smiled and said no, nature has to follow it's course.

I thought to myself that if the situation comes I could adopt one of the puppies, but in the past I adopted two dogs from the pound and had to bring them back, a devastating experience.
I don't want again to do something at the wrong time, so I asked the I Ching: "Concerning having a dog" The Hex received is 17.1.4.5 >2

I'm too involved to understand with clarity what the I Ching tells me. Would you help me?
Thanks.

 

[pocossin]

Concerning having a dog?
17.1.4.5 >2

I have spent hours on this. I have a cat and know the importance and value of having an animal friend. Nevertheless, I think you should do no more than continue to feed and water the dogs as you have done in the past. The Image says,

(Hatcher 17.X)
Within the pool there is thunder
Following
The noble young one, accordingly, approaching nightfall,
Goes indoors for refreshment and relaxation

You are dealing with a person who does not respect his animals, and you are not in a position to correct his abuse. Possibly, he is abusing his animals in revenge for the abuse he supposes that society has inflicted on him. Kick me, and I kick my dogs. In my opinion there is nothing you can do directly about this. You cannot be in a position to adopt the unlimited number of sick and diseased puppies he is producing. Look, I was in Ethiopia in the 60's when people were dying in the streets of pneumonia. There was nothing I could do. I am not a national health service. So, however this touches your heart, do not become involved directly. Instead, join with others. As I understand hexagram 17, the 'following' is 'entourage', that is, support a group that supports your aims. Join the Italian equivalent of the American SPCA. In most advance societies, animals have rights. Follow hexagram 2, and let others support your values.

 

[emiliana2010]

Ciao pocossin,
I feel grateful for your replay and very touched by what you say. So very often I have to remind myself that I cannot possibly "save" all the animals enslaved and mistreated by humans. But there are some that life throws in my path, and I think that those I have to honor.
I'll treasure your interpretation of 17 and see how I can involve myself with like-minded people.
Still, if the Chica will have puppies, what if I adopt one? With my busy style of life, my long working hours, what if I take a dog? Will he be happy? Will I be happy? This is what I was submitting to the I Ching.
In this light, what does 17 means...

 

[ginnie]

I think line one moving means for you to go out and ask the opinion of others, which you have done. I think line four moving is problematic, as is line five moving, in that they may hide outcomes which are not good. So I have to agree with Pocossin, who also gave your reading much thought. If you have a busy style of life, for example, your dog would be unhappy.

 

[emiliana2010]

I want to thank you so very much, ginnie and pocossin.
The message reached home.

All the best to you.

 

[sooo]

Someone not long ago said to me, when I was bewailing the fate of so many lonely and suffering dogs out here in desert yards: There are dog owners and there are dog lovers. I think truer words were never spoken. He was a dog owner; tied them to a tight collar and 10 mere feet of chain; a herding breed which thrives on lots of physical and mental activity, to live out his life from a pup to the day he died tied to a tree. He was a really sweet Border Collie. GRRRRRR, urge to bite that man's leg; but he was neither my dog nor on my property, and possession is said to be 9/10ths of the law. There was nothing I could do but give him attention when I was over there. I'm a dog lover, depending on the nature of the dog, which is nearly always determined by the nature of its owner(s).

Personally, I strongly feel that a person should have to qualify to have an outside dog, same as the right to drive a car, own a gun, etc. Dogs can be every bit as dangerous. Awhile back in Phoenix, a woman in her 60's was reading a newspaper while sitting in a garden chair, when two pit-bulls climbed their fence and attacked and killed the woman. An off-duty police officer used his service weapon to kill both dogs during the attack, after hearing the commotion outside, but it was too late for the aging woman, who died in her driveway. Naturally, the dog owners defended their dogs actions (idiots) and blamed the woman for antagonizing their pits. Typical; far too typical.

Not many things make me seriously angry anymore, but puppy farms and animal abusers make me spitting mad.

 

[emiliana2010]

Grazie sooo, I completely agree with you that people should qualify before letting a dog or any other animal in their life. I look forward to the moment when humans will give a good look at what idea lies behind the way animals are treated and realize that we have no right whatsoever upon any living being.

In the meantime I'll keep being the "aunt" of Chica and Rambo and enjoy their graceful and playful presence in my life.
Ciao ciao.