B is for the Black Dog

The Black Dog is a figure in British Isles Mythology. He has many names; Cwn Annwn, Garmr, Cerberus, Cu Sith, the Barghest, Hairy Jack, Padfoot - there are many more listed on the wiki page.

Seeing the Black Dog is usually a harbinger of impending death or doom. He's also associated with lightning storms, but he's most known as the portent of death.

I'm writing about him today because I've had a personal encounter with the Cu Sith, or Black Dog.

Sascha and I were driving from Oregon to North Carolina. He'd just come home safe from Afghanistan, so we were moving back to North Carolina. Most of our stuff had been shipped; it was just Sascha, the cat, and I in the car, along with the stuff we needed for the two week journey. (We were stopping to see sights as we went.)

In the middle of Montana, miles from anywhere, we were cruising along at 75 MPH (the speed limit on their interstates) when a very large black dog ran in front of the car. We swerved, attempting to miss it, hit it anyway, spun out of control, across the road, and into a fence. The car was totaled. Sascha was life-flighted to a hospital sixty miles away with a punctured, collapsed lung and two broken ribs. I waited with the car until a nice SPCA employee came to pick up our cat (she kept her at her house until we could pick her up again!) and then the tow truck driver drove me to the hospital. I had twisted an ankle, but was otherwise unharmed.

And it was on the hour ride to the hospital, while I was quietly, inwardly panicking because I had no idea if Sascha was alright, that I realized the dog we'd hit was black. (SPCA later told us it survived, somehow, but disappeared from the road. They THINK the family who'd lost it came to get it, but they're not sure.)

Sascha spent a week in the hospital. It took us another week to find a new car, pull our stuff out of the old one, and pick up Boudicca so we could continue across the states. But Sascha survived, and is pretty much back to normal now, a year later.

Running into the Black Dog remains the scariest moment of my life. I still have nights where I think back on it, and the moments after we hit, when I looked over to see Sascha with blood running down his face, telling me he couldn't breathe. Those are bad nights. I still have moments in the car when I think I see movement at the side of the road. It's been pointed out that I seem to have a mild case of PTSD, which I think I agree with, but I'm getting better. Those nights are few and farther between now.

Looking in from the back of the car, you can see how the driver's side buckled inwards and broke Sascha's ribs. Boudicca's carrier was right behind me. The actually had to cut Sascha's door OFF to get him out of the car.

View of the car from the front.










Part of me wonders at the timing. The only real ritual I've performed was just after Sascha deployed to Afghanistan; I performed a protection ritual to keep him safe. Every night he was gone I prayed to Brigid. And he came home safe, but it was like the universe rubber-banded on us. I pulled too much and it snapped back.

Sascha has mentioned this principle in regards to weather-working. He doesn't do it much, because it tends to backlash eventually.

Has anyone else observed this with magic? Energy backlashing when you've pulled to hard the other direction?

Has anyone else had encounters with the Black Dog?

Abortion Laws - MA, MI, MN, MS

Massachusetts - #16 - B-
29% of Massachusetts counties have no abortion provider.
Bans
Massachusetts has not repealed its pre-Roe ban, though it is now unconstitutional and unenforceable.

Biased Counseling and Insurance Prohibition
Partially unenforceable/unconstitutional requirement that a woman receive and sign a packet of state-approved materials 24 hours before an abortion.
Health insurance policies provided by the state for its employees may not provide abortion coverage for certain post-viability procedures, with exceptions for the woman's health.

Refusal Clause
No one's required to participate in abortions or sterilization procedures. Private hospitals don't have to provide/refer contraception, and religious organizations don't have to provide contraception or abortion insurance coverage.

Restriction on Young Women's Access to Abortion
Unmarried women under 18 must obtain the consent of one parent.

TRAP Laws
Unconstitutional and unenforceable restriction that abortions after 12 weeks must be performed in hospitals.

News Stories
Court upholds Massachusetts Abortion Clinic Buffer Law
Wiki entry on John Salvi, who murdered abortion clinic workers in Massachusetts in 1994


Michigan - #32 - F
83% of Michigan counties have no abortion provider.
Bans
Several bans, almost all of which are unconstitutional and unenforceable. But they keep trying.

Biased Counseling and Counseling Ban
24 hours before an abortion a woman must receive a state-approved packet of materials.
State Department of Community Health funds for pregnancy prevention cannot be used to counsel about or refer to abortion. They also must give funding priority to organizations that do not provide abortion except in the case of emergency.

Refusal Clause
No one has to participate in abortions; religious employers may choose not to provide contraception coverage.

Restrictions on Low Income Women's and Young Women's Access to Abortion
Public funding for abortion is prohibited except to save the woman's life or in cases of rape or incest.
Women under the age of 18 must obtain parental consent from one parent with no exceptions for rape, incest, or child abuse.

TRAP Laws
Facilities have their own unique licensing scheme, effectively requiring abortion clinics to be mini-hospitals. Doctors must have referring privileges at local hospitals.

News Stories
Michigan governor signs new abortion law


Minnesota - #18 - C+
95% of Minnesota counties have no abortion provider.
Biased Counseling and Counseling Ban
24 hours before getting an abortion a woman has to sit through a state-approved lecture, in person or by telephone.
Family planning grants from the state can't go towards abortion. They also can't make grants under the "Positive Abortion Alternatives" program for abortion services.

Restrictions on Young Women's Access to Abortion
Women under 18 must wait 48 hours after notice is delivered to BOTH parents, either by certified mail or in person by the attending physician. Waived in cases of child abuse.

TRAP Laws
Abortions after the first trimester must be done in a hospital or licensed "abortion facility" (which usually have to be mini-hospitals themselves.)


Mississippi - #48 - F
99% of Mississippi counties have no abortion provider. (Soon to be 100%!)
Bans
Several unconstitutional and unenforceable bans on abortion, with one near-total criminal ban on abortion to take effect if Roe v Wade is ever repealed.

Biased Counseling, Counseling Ban, and Insurance Prohibition
24 hours before getting an abortion a woman must sit through an in-person, state approved lecture by the attending physician.
Public school nurses are prohibiting from counseling about abortion. No money from the Mississippi Children's Trust Fund may be used for abortion counseling or services.
No public funds can be used for abortions for state employees, except for rape or incest of inviability of the fetus. Insurance plans under the new state exchange cannot cover abortion except for rape, incest, or health of the mother.

Refusal Clause
No one is required to participate in ANY health care service.

Restrictions on Low Income Women's and Young Women's Access to Abortion
Prohibits public funding for abortion except in cases of rape, incest, to save the life of the mother, or if the fetus is not viable.
Unmarried women under 18 must obtain the written consent of both parents. No exception for rape, incest, or child abuse.

TRAP Laws
The TRAP laws in Mississippi are forcing the state's sole remaining abortion provider to close its doors. After remodeling and following all the mini-hospital guidelines, none of the doctors have been able to secure admitting rights at any nearby hospitals. The law requires them to have such rights, but does not require the hospitals to give it to them. Which shuts them down. The LAST REMAINING CLINIC IN THE STATE. All of the surrounding states have 24 hour delay laws, which means the women of Mississippi will have to travel out of state, stay overnight in a hotel, and THEN get an abortion. As if getting an abortion wasn't stressful enough.

Other laws

Section 97-29-11 of the Mississippi Code makes being the parent of an illegitimate child a misdemeanor, and requires that the State Health Department report out-of-wedlock births each month. The misdemeanor is punishable by “not less than thirty (30) days nor more than ninety (90) days or by a fine of not more than Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($250.00), or both.” For repeat offenses, the jail time and fine double.  While this policy is not enforced, it is still valid law in Mississippi.

News Stories
Mississippi's last clinic fights to stay open
Mississippi and the state of Abortion 40 years after Roe


National Report Card
Part 1: Intro and Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas
Part 2: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware
Part 3: Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho
Part 4: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas
Part 5: Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland
Part 6: this post

Abortion Laws - KY, LA, ME, MD

Kentucky - #41 - F
98% of Kentucky counties have no abortion provider.
Bans
Unconstitutional and unenforceable criminal ban on abortions after 12 weeks.

Biased Counseling, Counseling Ban, and Insurance Prohibition
Partially unenforceable law about the state-sponsored packet of materials that must be received 24 hours before an abortion. Court blocked the in-person requirement; still must get it by mail or telephone counseling session.
Hospitals providing sexual assault care cannot inform the woman of her option to abort. School districts can't offer information or referrals to/about abortion.
Insurance can't cover abortion except to protect the life of the mother, unless the woman buys an optional insurance rider.

Refusal Clause
No one is required to participate in abortions.

Public Facilities Restriction
Abortions may not be obtained at publicly owned hospitals or other publicly owned healthcare facilities except to save the life of the mother.

Restrictions on Low Income Women's and Young Women's Access to Abortion
Prohibits public funding from being used for abortions except in the case of rape, incest, or danger to the life of the mother. Portions of the law are unconstitutional and unenforceable.
Unmarried women under the age of 18 must obtain parental consent from one parent with no exceptions for rape, incest, or child abuse.

TRAP Laws
Doctors must have admitting privileges at local hospitals, abortion facilities have specific regulations, and clinics are susceptible to inspections at any time with no provisions made for the privacy of patients.

Other Laws

"If . . . the United States Constitution is amended or relevant judicial decisions are reversed or modified, the declared policy of this Commonwealth to recognize and to protect the lives of all human beings regardless of their degree of biological development shall be fully restored."

News Stories
Kentucky heading for more anti-abortion legislation


Louisiana - #50 - F
92% of Louisiana counties have no abortion provider.
Bans
Several unconstitutional and unenforceable bans on abortion.

Biased Counseling, Counseling Ban, and Insurance Prohibition
A woman seeking an abortion must sit through a lengthy state-approved lecture by the doctor at least 24 hours before the abortion.
No one employed by the state or receiving government funds can advocate for abortion.
Health insurance policies in the state cannot cover abortion, no exceptions.

Refusal Clause
No one is required to participate in abortions except in emergencies to save the life of the mother.

Public Facilities Restriction
No public facilities or public funds can be used for abortion except to save the life of the mother.

Restrictions on Low Income Women's and Young Women's Access to Abortion
Prohibits public funding for abortion except to preserve the life of the mother or in cases of rape or incest (reported to law enforcement).
Women under the age of 18 must obtain consent from one parent, with no exceptions for rape, incest, or child abuse.

TRAP Laws
I don't even know how to summarize this, just check the link. Unique requirements for the facility, unique medical malpractice liability, other stuff.

Other laws

"The Legislature does solemnly declare and find in reaffirmation of the longstanding policy of this State, that the unborn child is a human being from the time of conception and is, therefore, a legal person for purposes of the unborn child's right to life and is entitled to the right to life from conception under the laws and Constitution of this State. . . . [I]f those [abortion-related] decisions of the United States Supreme Court are ever reversed or modified or the United States Constitution is amended to allow protection of the unborn then the former policy of this State to prohibit abortions shall be enforced." 

News Stories
Report says Louisiana is the most pro-life state


Maine - #7 - A
69% of Maine counties have no abortion provider.

Refusal Clause
Maine has some pretty extensive refusal laws. People don't have to participate; pharmacists don't have to fill prescriptions if it's against their conscience, religious employers don't have to cover contraception in their insurance plans.

Restrictions on Low Income Women's and Young Women's Access to Abortion
Prohibits public funding for abortion except in cases of rape or incest, or to save the life of the mother.
Women under 18 must obtain consent from one parent with no exception for rape, incest, or child abuse.

TRAP Laws
Only licensed physicians may provide abortions.



Maryland - #5 - A
63% of Maryland counties have no abortion provider.

Refusal Clause
No one is required to participate in abortions, sterilizations, or artificial inseminations. Religious employers are not required to provide contraception coverage in their insurance.

Restrictions on Young Women's Access to Abortion
Women under 18 cannot get an abortion until one parent has been notified, unless the physician believes notifying the parent would not be in the best interests of the minor. No exception for rape, incest, or child abuse.

TRAP Laws
Maryland's trap laws are somewhat reasonable. A facility that provides surgical abortion as a regular service must be licensed as a surgical facility.

News Stories
Anti-Choice protestor disturbs inauguration



This post is part of a series.

National Report Card
Part 1: Intro and Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas
Part 2: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware
Part 3: Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho
Part 4: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas
Part 5: Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland
Part 6: Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi

Abortion Laws - IL, IN, IA, KS

Illinois - #17 - B-
92% of Illinois counties have no abortion provider

Bans
Unconstitutional and Unenforceable ban on abortion.

Counseling Ban and Insurance Prohibition
Grants provided under the "Problem Pregnancy Health Services and Care Act" which is designed to "expand and improve the availability of, and access to, needed comprehensive community services which assist problem pregnancies and to obtain proper care and assistance to those persons in need" cannot include reference to or about abortion.
Insurance paid for with state funds can't cover abortion.

Refusal Clause
No one is required to perform an abortion.

Restrictions on Young Women's Access to Abortion
Unenforceable currently, pending court judgment. Would require parental notification.

TRAP Laws
Requires abortion facilities to be ambulatory surgical treatment centers, regardless of types of abortions performed.

Other Laws

The General Assembly "solemnly declare[s] and find[s] in reaffirmation of the longstanding policy of this State, that the unborn child is a human being from the time of conception and is, therefore, a legal person for purposes of the unborn child's right to life and is entitled to the right to life from conception under the laws and Constitution of this State. . . . [I]f those [abortion-related] decisions of the United States Supreme Court are ever reversed or modified or the United States Constitution is amended to allow protection of the unborn then the former policy of this State to prohibit abortions unless necessary for the preservation of the mother's life shall be reinstated." 

Indiana - #36 - F
95% of Indiana counties have no abortion provider.
Bans
Ban after 20 weeks or viability, whichever is earlier. Ban after 12 weeks ruled unconstitutional&unenforceable.

Biased Counseling, Counseling Ban, and Insurance Prohibition
At least 18 hours before an abortion, the woman must sit through a state-approved lecture. The employees of the Indiana Office of Women's Health may not advocate for, promote, or refer to abortion. Health insurance policies under the new state exchange may not cover abortion except for the health of the mother, rape, or incest.

Refusal Clause
No one is required to perform or participate in abortions.

Restriction on Low Income Women's and Young Women's Access to Abortion
Prohibits public funding for abortion.
Women under age 18 must obtain written consent from one parent, with no exceptions for rape, incest, or child abuse.

TRAP Laws
The State department of Health has authority to enact further trap laws without government approval. Abortions must be performed in hospital/hospital licensed facilities. All abortion providers must have admitting privileges with local hospitals.

News Stories
Fetal Anomalies and Medication Abortion Next Targets of Indiana's Anti-Choice Legislature


Iowa - #19 - C+
91% of Iowa counties have no abortion provider.
Bans
Unconstitutional and unenforceable ban after 12 weeks.

Refusal Clause
Individuals and Hospital that are not controlled, maintained, or supported by a public authority may refuse to perform or participate in abortions except in emergencies.

Restriction on Low Income Women's and Young Women's Access to Abortion
Prohibits public funding for abortion care unless the pregnancy threatens the life of the mother, the fetus is physically deformed, mentally deficient, or affected with a congenital illness, or the pregnancy is the result of rape (reported within 45 days of the occurrence) or incest (reported within 150 days of the occurrence).
Unmarried women under the age of 18 cannot get an abortion until 48 hours after one parent has been notified by certified mail or in person with the attending physician. Includes exceptions for child abuse, rape, and incest.

TRAP Laws
Only physicians licensed in surgery may perform abortions.


Kansas - #46 - F
97% of Kansas counties have no abortion provider.
Bans
Criminal ban on abortion after 22 weeks, measured from the woman's last menstrual period. In addition, allows the offending physician to be sued by the woman, her spouse, and her parents if under 18.

Biased Counseling, Counseling Ban, and Insurance Prohibition
24 hours before the abortion a woman must receive an extensive packet of state approved materials.
Kansas Department of Health may not enter contracts with organizations that provide abortions.
Health Insurance Policies may not cover abortion unless a woman purchases an optional rider.

Public facilities and employees ban
No public facilities or employees may participate in abortions.

Refusal Clause
No one may be required to perform/participate in an abortion or sterilization. In addition, no one may be required to provide birth control, including pharmacists.

Restrictions on Low Income Women's and Young Women's Access to Abortion
Prohibits public funding for abortion except to save the life of the mother or in cases of rape or incest.
Women under the age of 18 must obtain consent of BOTH parents, with the exception of incest. Additionally, she must attend a counselling session with a parent, guardian, or other trusted party over the age of 21.

TRAP Laws
Abortion providers are subject to their own, very restrictive set of laws. They must be located within 30 miles of a hospital, and every physician at the clinic must have admitting privileges at that hospital. All facilities must be open to inspection at least twice a year, one of these without notice. Records must be available for inspection, with no privacy for the patients. (This section is fairly extensive, I'm not going to reiterate it all here.)

Other News Stories
Kansas is probably the most well-known for the murder of Dr. George Tiller, one of the last doctors to provide late-term abortions in the U.S. His clinic is set to reopen this spring, after four years. They had to remodel it to meet TRAP laws first. Abortion opponents are trying to stop the remodel.
The ACLU has given up trying to stop the Insurance Ban from going into effect, but it's going to court anyway.



This entry is part of a series on abortion laws across the U.S. Other parts can be found here:
National Report Card
Part 1: Intro and Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas
Part 2: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware
Part 3: Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho
Part 4: this post

Part 5: Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland
Part 6: Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi