The real stars in your HOUSE

PET DATES

The real stars in your HOUSE

In an annual tradition, Madame Purrdita Wooflenska consults the constellations for advice on caring for your pet

Published on December 29, 2007

ARIES

March 21-April 19

Stubborn, trouble-prone, exuberant, your little Arian is - admit it! - also a thief as far as food is concerned. Turn your back on some cheese you've left on the sideboard or some nicely grilled salmon, and your kid has grabbed it before you know it. Do put food carefully away, and wrap up your empty tins too, which are dangerous.

TAURUS

April 20-May 20

Call your Taurean a couch-potato with the motto "Slow and steady wins the day." You may think she's not so intelligent, but, in fact, she wants to figure things out at her own pace. The problem is that her pace is rather slow. Check her weight, and, if you haven't done so already, schedule some exercise time for her.

GEMINI

May 21-June 21

Living in the moment, your little Gemini acts on impulse. Leave a door unlatched, a cupboard open, a porcelain statuette on a shelf, and he'll respond to temptation. He's not deliberately naughty, just bored. Toys are not enough. He responds to your presence. With training sessions, a walk around the soi, or just some wild game, you'll find his destructiveness will gradually disappear.

CANCER

June 22-July 22

Your little Cancerian shows you all-consuming love, ignoring all others to be with you. Perhaps you feel flattered by her attention. After all, where could you find a human friend so loyal, so affectionate, so willing to please? Although her affection might make you proud, it would be much better to help her expand her circle of friends beyond you. It's time get her socialised with other animals - and other people as well.

LEO

July 23-August 22

Does your Leo tell you when to feed him, play with him, respond to him? He's decided that he's the alpha member of your household - and that you're one of his loyal followers. This situation is not productive in the long run. You need to re-take control, but do it with gentleness, patience and firmness. Otherwise, you'll find your friends will stop dropping by.

VIRGO

August 23- September 22

Your little Virgoan refuses the food you give her. She wants that which she shouldn't have, from chocolate to a bite of a poisonous plant like a poinsettia. She especially loves "people food", and she'd eat it all the time if she could. Make it a rule not to feed her from your plate, and not to give her any of your food except an occasional morsel.

LIBRA

September 23-October 22

Your little Libran is a party-animal. No matter if you have a small get-together or a gala event, this gregarious crowd-pleaser will try to insert his presence in the thick of things. Try to make sure that he doesn't intrude if a guest is a non-pet person, or, if children are around, that they know how to respect an animal.

SCORPIO

October 23-November 21

Although she's acts lovingly towards you, your little Scorpion is a fighter. She loves wandering the neighbourhood, dominating any animal that enters her territory. She also loves the opposite sex. When she's not coming home with an ear missing, she's coming home pregnant. Do have her neutered, which will prolong her

life. By the way, Scorpion boys benefit from neutering too.

SAGITTARIUS

November 22-December 21

Energetic and outgoing, your little Sagittarian has a footloose spirit, but he also craves balance in his life, just not everything at the same time. He can play vigorously for hours but when he drops, he

really drops, falling into a deep sleep that revives his muscles and

his vigour. Give him lots of love and attention, as well as his own private cubbyhole - nothing fancy, though. A cardboard box will

do.

CAPRICORN

December 22-January 20

Perhaps your little Capricorn is a bit timid, especially in new situations. Don't force her. She might seem to be staring at nothing, but in fact her brain is working over time, helping her to figure everything out for herself. She might even see things that you don't, such as how to open some cupboard drawers or how to reach that box of cookies you've put on a top shelf.

AQUARIUS

January 20-February 18

You might think your little Aquarian stubborn, and, in fact, he really prefers to do things his own way. Since he has a loving heart, the best way to train him is through patience, lots of praise and a few treats. You will have to be flexible, though, a five-minute training session one day, a ten-minute session the next. Harsh words and violence will not bring the results you want.

PISCES

February 19-March 20

Balance, balance and more balance - this your little Piscean craves above all. Sensitive to change - to any new thing, in fact - she requires her environment to be harmonious and unstressful. If she seems to be ill but your vet can't find any reason, check out the rest of your household. Someone is ill or unhappy, and your little Piscean knows it.

If you don't know your pet's sign, don't worry. You'll find all 12 signs in every dog, cat, bird, fish, turtle and iguana that graces your household.

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