Excel - Conditional Formatting. Referring to a sty

Question

I believe I'm asking the same question as in this thread but it wasn't answered.

Here's my problem.

So, applied to the range K3:K10, I have several different conditional formatting rules that require a specific text string comprised of the contents of a referenced cell plus a constant text string. Each rule applies a different colour for a specific referenced cell and constant text string (DEAD or ALIVE) combination. For example, in the range, if a cell contains the word "Dog", then a space, and then the word "Dead", it will be formatted Red. The legend in columns D and E show what colours apply to each animal for the combination of criteria (Animal and Dead/Alive). What I want to do is, to be able to choose a colour for an animal with a drop down list in Column C, and have the CF use a lookup function or something to change the formatting of any of the cells within the range K3:K10 based on the colour chosen in column C

So, if K3 is "Dog Dead", then apply the same formatting as in cell D3 or if it is "Dog Alive" apply the same formatting as E3. I don't want to just ask CF to make any cell containing "Dog Dead" red or "Dog Alive" light red, because the colour for dog might not be red. It could be green, or blue.

So, I guess I want dynamic condtional formatting. Is that right?

Thanks in advance,

Andy.