Dear Madame,

Hi. Here’s a different kind of relationship question for you. I have an otherwise pretty satisfying thing going with a woman in my life right now. Can’t really complain about much. So I feel like I’m picking at the fringe of it when I talk about the one thing that’s not working for me — she insists on letting her dog sleep with us, a rescued pit bull. We picked him out together, but I didn’t think this was gonna turn into a regular, nightly thing.

Her birthday’s coming up and she’s been hinting at getting another dog. Would you think I’m blowing this out of proportion if I said I can’t handle another one? She’s a beautiful woman, a Libra. And I love being her big, strong Aries guy. Not interested in losing it over a dog we both love. Any advice for me?

— Not yet in the doghouse, but heading there.

Dear Nearly There,

So your twosome’s become a threesome, and you don’t know when you signed up to share the sheets with Mr. Bow-wow. Personally, I don’t know how this works. I’m not keen on the thought of Rover reviewing my more intimate moves, but lots of people make it work. I think dating surveys should include questions like, “What’s your position on co-sleeping? With dog? Cats? Babies? Check the maximum number of creatures you’d consider: 1 2 3…”

But you didn’t come for my personal opinion, so I’ve consulted the great oracle in the sky, and this is what it has to say: You may be Mr. SuperDude, but you’ve got a stealth sanitary streak and sharp eye for hidden grit, so you can’t just ‘fade’ the dirty paw prints and dusting of fur on your pillow. Cleanliness is next to a good night’s sleep for you. Trying to chalk this up to your Aries imprimatur of First, Best and Always is to only scratch the surface of your dilemma.

Based on the information you sent, you were both born in 1974. This was a year with Jupiter in Pisces, which is super-duper Jupiter: Jupiter in his own, original, boundless oceanic domain. Jupiter in Pisces has a soft spot for creatures great and small, for the lord Zeus made them all. Need an animal rescue agent? Get yourself someone with strong Fishy Jupiter (or its polarity, Virgo) intention in their chart. Such as someone born in 1974 or 1986. The more recent tykes born in 2010 will be next.

Now plant that Jupiter in Pisces in the 6th house of your beloved’s natal chart, (where we care for small things such as pets) and you do, indeed, have the makings of an animal rescuer. The 6th house also tells us about the preferred conditions of our work, and what naturally feels like something we must do.

Tell me: did you ask about her childhood? Was there a personal history of taking in bunnies, baby squirrels, lost cats? You may have assumed that impulse stopped when she went off to the work-a-day world, but no. This is hard-wired. She must find and help lost and lonely critters.

Your Jupiter in Pisces, however, sits in the 12th house, where rescuing abused circus elephants is more likely to give you deep spiritual oneness with the universe. Fortunately for both of you, they’re not likely to land in your bed, because this kind of rescue operation happens at a distance, which also suits your need for sanitary sheets.

So you see, the impulse to help, to be generous, to serve runs deeply within each of you. Don’t deny that part; sit down and privately consider what that means to you. Likely this is one of the reasons for your mutual attraction. But there’s a distinct difference between the ideal and the real, as your discomfort can attest.

Before you head to the shelter this month, you need to have a talk with Ms. Lovely Libra and see if you can come to some accord, because de-furring to her sympathies without discussion won’t work. Her rescuer impulses aren’t going away, but neither is your own brand of compassion. Could you consider multiple means of kindness? Some in-house rescue, some volunteer work at a shelter? Find balance in your desire to bless the little creatures.

As for the bed business, how ‘bout a co-sleeping infant cot? Are you handy with a saw and hammer? You could take a tip from this couple who built a custom 11-foot bed for their seven pets. Readers may have other ideas. There are solutions to this problem. It’s worth your time to find mutual ground for your mutual care. Begin with yourselves, then spread the love.

With clean sheets and a clear conscience,
I am yours,

Madame Z