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I wonder if Joseph, for just once in his life, would experience the love and connection felt when I use to walk into my backyard and the dogs saw me. The way they jumped all over me. The look of, yes, I would take a bullet for this guy. The look of unbridled love that one gets from a wife or child when he is their best friend. Would he somehow change his tune? Would he stop acting like his doesn’t stink? Yes, I know this sounds quite corny or off the deep end, but this is what a pet does to certain people. I do admit that if you live in Boro Park or Flatbush, this selfishness might be a burden for others, but here in Monsey or CT, I say, go for it.
Small and/or lazy dogs can live happily in an urban environment.
For those preoccupied with the practical aspects of halachos of both Pesach and tza’ar baalei chaim: you start changing your pet’s food over a week or two before Pesach. Start by feeding a small amount of the new food to make sure it agrees with your furry friend, then over time increase the amount of chometz-free food and decrease the amount of chometz until by bedika time (or your neighborhood’s last garbage pickup) your pet is eating only chometz-free. And don’t forget when Pesach is over to reverse the process by gradually changing over from chometz-free to its regular food.
Mentsch, having lived in New York for a few years I sympathize with you, but don’t think that all dog owners are bums. And realize that the guy who’s inconveniencing the public with his dog is probably doing it in lots of other ways too, so don’t land on the poor dog so hard.
Having a pet or not isn’t a matter of being “Jewish” but of the individual’s own choice and, if they seek it, the advice of their LOR. It’s sefirah time, when we have to treat each other with increased respect. So: let Joe stop trying to tell us what’s kosher and let’s the rest of us stop calling him out roughly on it.
Midwest
Even “conscientious” owners still have guilt on their hands. Twice today, walking on the street I was startled by dogs running at me. Sure the leash caught the dogs bf they were able to bite/nip me (or whatever they were planning to do) but why do I, and every other person on the street, need to live in fear of someones dog? That fear is a form of damages and it’s on the owner.Are there no chametz-free foods good enough for year round? If there are not, someone should make one.
Forshayer: Why would you need a dog’s love when you could have your children’s love?
Sign I found on a placard posted on a tree in our neighborhood:
Dear Doggie
Apparently your owner does not read English or is just inconsiderate and selfish. Please insist on having your owner clean up after you, or take your “business” elsewhere.
Ruff Ruff (thank you!!)
The NeighborsJoseph, the more love the better! 3 of my kids are already married and my house feels empty during the week. I work at home and have time to walk them when they need walking. I also don’t know why scooping up their poop off the grass is any different than diapering my einikel when he or she comes to visit on Shabbos? Speaking of the eineklech, they also enjoyed the dogs. i don’t have the 2 that were here last Pesach, but my 11 year old son along with his 2 nieces have been hocking me to get another one all year. Now after reading this thread I feel I might just give in.
Little Froggie
Actually I like the solution done by some condo boards
The state could have a dog DNA database. City ticket “cops” could do collections of dog poo which are matched against the database and stiff fines imposed. Its a money maker for the state and cleans up the neighborhood. Win/Win !How much lower can a human being fall than becoming a dog’s pooper scooper.
Joseph: Why are you questioning people wanting to have pet dogs? No one is telling you to get a dog.
“I also don’t know why scooping up their poop off the grass is any different than diapering my einikel when he or she comes to visit on Shabbos?”
That’s bad. Pretty bad. When one can not differentiate between a human and an animal – we know we’ve reached a new low. Animal rights society – you’ve triumphed!!!
No. There’s one more step to go – Animals First Association, animals should belong ahead of us humans…
We’re on the right track. The average family size in the good United States of America is 2.58 plus a cat and a dog. These selfish people who cannot live a normal family life together…Husband, wife, son, daughter… find room in their compassionate hearts to “adopt’ a cat and a dog.
Equating dog waste with human waste is not the same as equating dogs and humans.
Once again, I have never seen a brand of cat food, dry or wet, which is mostly chometz. Many/most brands I’ve seen do contain chometz (wheat, barley, or oats) but it’s a minor ingredient somewhere down the list. Therefore since cat food is not something normal people eat, and it’s not something one would absent-mindedly eat, it is PERMITTED to own it and derive benefit from it on Pesach. The fact that some exceptional people do eat it is not relevant; the criterion in halocho is שאינו מאכל בני אדם הבריאים.
As far as walking a dog on Shabbos without an eruv one may hold the leash by the end. Whatever is between your hand and the dog is not called carrying, no matter how long it is; only what’s on the other side of your hand is carrying. Scooping itself is not a problem, since it’s removing a public nuisance. But carrying the empty bag in the first place is a proiblem, and putting it in a garbage can is also, because the can is a reshus hayochid. I don’t know how dog owners manage it.
Cats are more carnivorous than dogs, so they really don’t need chometz in their food.
Liking animals or keeping them as pets depends on an individual’s interest. I think Frum Jews don’t typically keep pets bec they are too busy with supporting their families & are too busy with everyday life to bother with an additional responsibility. The cons outweigh the pros to them. Keeping a pet takes money and time, not things readily available to many busy Jewish households. Also, the lack of familiarity with keeping pets is a factor. For example, some Jews that came from Europe were too scared of dogs to have them as pets (reminded them of the dogs the Nazi’s y”m used). Personally, I have a rabbit & a hamster. They are so cute & add a little spice to my day with their antics. Cleaning up after them is but a small portion of what having a pet is about. There are many studies that show how animals are beneficial to humans. They lower stress hormones, etc. Obviously, nothing can replace human companionship, but I see nothing wrong with keeping a pet as long as you do things according to halacha. For Pesach my rabbit ate veggies, fruits & hay. My hamster ate alfalfa hay, fruits, veggies & nuts. They were fine.
Cats are more carnivorous than dogs, so they really don’t need chometz in their food.
Chometz isn’t in cat food for the cat’s benefit. It’s a cheap “filler” that reduces the manufacturer’s cost.
Forshayer,
“The look of unbridled love that one gets from a wife or child when he is their best friend.”
Do you really equate the love of a spouse or a child to that of a dog?? I’m 100% fine with dog ownership, as long as the dog owner recognizes that what he has is a dog, not a miniature fur-covered human being.
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