As a boy growing up in the foothills of Berkeley, my parents encouraged me to have pets. From guinea pigs to parakeets to even a pet chicken named Fwedwika, my home was full of little critters throughout most of my childhood. By encouraging me to be a caretaker for my pets, my parents taught me the meaning of responsibility, consistency and perhaps even love. So I've often wondered if the Bible supports animal activism and what exactly God would say if I posed the question, "Do You love dogs?"
Dogs are the only animals in the Torah that receive a reward for their actions. When the Jewish slaves flee Egypt, it states "not one dog barked” (Exodus 11:7). As a reward for that, God said, "…and flesh torn in the field you shall not eat; you shall throw it to the dog[s]" (Exodus 22:30; Mechilta). However, God’s affection for animals doesn't end with affable companions such as dogs. This affection even extends to insects. King David had to learn this lesson when he questioned the purpose of such "vile creatures" as spiders. Subsequently God created an event whereupon a spider’s web saved his life, thereby impressing upon Judaism's mightiest king that every creature has purpose (Midrash Alpha Beta Acheres d'Ben Sira 9).
The Talmud teaches that the reason the Almighty created animals before humans on the sixth day of creation was to teach humans humility so much so that "even a lowly gnat" may be more deserving of life (Sanhedrin 38a).
So one may infer from here that God does indeed love dogs…and all the rest of His creatures too. But does this manifest itself into practical animal activism or does it remain a more generalized and undefined value in Judaism?
Jewish law is replete with requirements for the caring of animals. Examples include laws prohibiting inflicting pain on animals (Kesef Mishneh, Hilkhot Rotzeah 13:9), requiring one to feed animals in a loving manner (Igg'rot Moshe, Even haEzer 4:92), and protecting animals from being overworked (Hoshen Mishpat 307:13). We see from these and more, the extensive lengths to which the Torah goes in order to ensure the proper care of animals. Even when one must slaughter an animal to feed ones family, there are numerous Jewish laws set in place to guarantee that the animal's death is quick and painless (Guide of the Perplexed III:48). One insight we can glean from the Torah about why God may have made animals, is that they were created to express the "glory of the Creator" (Pirkei Avos 6:11). The sheer diversity and beauty of animals leads one to appreciate the Creator even more, thereby leading one to proclaim, "How great is Your work, O Lord" (Psalm 92:5).
One might also say that the Creator has placed us, the descendants of Adam and Eve, in His beautiful garden to be the "caretaker" of "God's garden" and all the animals therein (Genesis 2:19-20).
Mankind is created last in the days of creation because humans are the pinnacle of creation; we are the beings created in God’s image (Genesis 1:27). When we use our free will responsibly, acting with compassion and sensitivity, we become like God, as it says, "Just as He is compassionate, so should you be compassionate. Just as He is righteous, so should you be righteous" (Midrash Sifre Deuteronomy 49). When we develop ourselves to be spiritually refined, we fully realize the title of "caretakers of the world."
We are the caretakers of God’s beautiful world and all the animals in it.
Imagine what message it sends a child when Daddy and Mommy teach that God wants all our animals to be fed before we feed ourselves (Talmud, Brachot 40a). Imagine what message it sends our child when Daddy and Mommy teach that God watches us to see if we are being compassionate to the animals in our midst (Talmud, Bava Metzia 85a.). And imagine what message we bequeath to our children when we say that to become truly righteous and spiritually fulfilled, we must cultivate a sensitivity towards animals, as it says "A righteous person knows the needs of the animal" (Proverbs 12:10)!
Perhaps this is why God specifically made Noah build an ark to save all the animals during the Flood. After all, God could have easily made a miracle where the animals were saved without Noah needing to slave away for a year meticulously tending to the care of each animal in the ark and even sharing his own table with them (Malbim, Genesis 6:21). One could answer that this was precisely to highlight that the concept of being the "caretakers of the Garden" didn't end with Adam and Eve but is an essential responsibility of mankind for all time. Additionally, one can also say that the way we treat animals is a reflection of the way we treat people. In the Bible, we observe the repeating story of how a loving shepherd is chosen by God to lead the spiritual flock of the Jewish people after previously demonstrating his dedication to a flock of sheep (Midrash, Shemot Rabah 2:2). A barometer for one's sensitivity towards other people can be seen in how we treat the animals in our midst. This emphasis on caring for animals can be a way to further those feelings of sensitivity that may eventually lead to goodwill for all mankind.
There is a final fascinating perspective that the Torah is teaching us. Animals can serve as our teachers. There are God-given qualities inherent in the instinctual habits and mannerisms of the animals around us that can actually serve to inspire humans to achieve greater heights of spiritual fulfillment. For example, the very first law in the Code of Jewish Laws is, "Rabbi Yehuda ben Taima said, 'Be as bold as a leopard, light as an eagle, swift as a deer and strong as a lion to do the will of your Father in Heaven'" (Avos 5:20). Poignantly, this is placed as the first law in a book of Jewish legalities.This idea is most evident in the statement of Rabbi Yochanan, "If the Torah had not been given we could have learnt modesty from the cat, honesty from the ant, chastity from the dove, and good manners from the rooster." (Talmud, Eiruvin 100b). Perhaps we can learn from a dog the power of devotion, loyalty or even having a positive attitude.
I will conclude with a teaching about man's best friend, the dog. The notable sixteenth century Jewish leader, the Maharsha, says that a dog is a creature of love. Hence, the Hebrew name for a dog is "kelev" which is etymologically derived from the words "kulo lev" or "all heart" (Rabbi Shmuel Eidels, Chidushei Aggadot, Sanhedrin 97a). Now remember that Adam and Eve were instructed by God to give all the animals of the world their Hebrew names (Genesis 2:19-20). When they made this personal connection with the beasts of the world, the names they chose were prophetically accurate so as to encapsulate the essence of each animal into a name that truly revealed its soul. (Bereishit Rabbah 17:4). Thus, one may extrapolate from this that the Hebrew name for a dog was precisely chosen to be indicative of the loving soul of this marvelous creature.
So yes, God loves dogs. And we should too.
(62) Dale Fuller, October 8, 2020 2:01 PM
Dogs are both our teachers and our examples...
I'm with you 100%. In fact, I'll tell you what I say to my companion-animal loving congregation. When we had a memorial service for my assistant pastor for congregational care (Murphy was a Belgian Malinois), I told them that God created dogs for a specific purpose, they weren't just accidents of evolution. He created them to teach us the kind of unconditional trust that He wants from us, and to demonstrate the kind of unconditional love that He has for us.
Personally, I think that dogs came out of the Garden of Eden with us so that we'd still have a heart connection to God, our Creator.
(61) Nelson Barry Rogers, April 25, 2020 9:23 PM
Fabulous! Man's Eternal Best friend - The blessed, All-Hearted, Miraculous Dog!!
How Can One Not be Stupified by the PROFOUND and Unconditional Love and Loyalty of this Heavenly Creature and it's Exceeding Beneficence to All of Mankind Forever..And Perpetual Solace for All who have Found this blessed Creature of Largest Heart .nbr
(60) Ben Kurtzer, July 10, 2019 7:06 AM
Beautiful article
Thank you, Rabbi Welton, for sharing your thoughts in this beautiful article. I didn't grow up with a dog, but when I met my wife she had a wonderful dog. He passed away several years ago and we recently adopted another dog from a shelter. He is truly a blessing from Hashem, and I'm sure he has a neshama!
(59) Lee Ann, July 10, 2019 3:23 AM
Yes, on the good of animals!
Thank you for tender article on our best friends.
(58) Jarrod Goldberg, July 9, 2019 8:18 PM
Thank you
Thank you Rabbi, for this wonderful article and helping me to understand why I have always had such a love for dogs and all of God’s creatures
(57) Anonymous, July 9, 2019 2:45 PM
Thank you for this wonderfully written. I am not Jewish but have been enlightened but this insightful article. In the statement: "We are the caretakers of God's beautiful world and all the animals in it," is the full meaning of humanity. Kind regards MN
(56) Eli Willner, July 9, 2019 2:15 PM
Deleted comment
This comment has been deleted.
Dvirah, July 9, 2019 4:37 PM
Lessons
The dog is lowly? Learn then humility from it. The dog is brazen? Learn from it to be bold in the service of the Creator. Love for all creations great and small is not "pandering", it is what keeps us from destroying our world.
(55) Howie, July 9, 2019 1:55 PM
why are they afraid of dogs??
I loved this article about G d's love for animals. So why are my Jewish friends so afraid of dogs. I lived in Brooklyn, NY
(54) Dick. Bratsos, March 5, 2019 6:29 PM
Saddest time if my life????god take care of Home
My dog died. Recently , and it was one of the worst time, of my. Life.
Annie, July 10, 2019 2:40 AM
It would be.
I still miss my womderful Siamese cat (soulmate) who died more than 10 years ago, and can imagine your pain.
My advice would be to find another dog. They won't replace your one, of course, but they will fill the empty space. My own dog sends sympathetic wuffs. Three years after his father died, he is still looking for him.
(53) Sephora, December 25, 2018 3:25 PM
I love the teaching of the animals by G-d. Do are pets who die go to Heaven so we can see them there later when we pass away?
Anonymous, July 10, 2019 2:44 AM
Of course !
Have you read Kipling's poem about the dog who barges into Heaven to wait for her father ? My last Siamese cat will have behaved in the same way as Dinah did (it's not at all a sentimental poem; she is not a sweet dog, anything but)
The righr sort of cat and dog (and ferret and other pet) will be in Heaven waiting. My Siamese will be there,she wouldn't take no for an answer.
(52) Sarah Rosenblum, December 23, 2018 10:08 PM
I LOVE DOGS
I grew up on a farm in Lakewood, NJ (the Jackson part). We had numerous dogs--mostly from people who couldn't have them anymore for various reasons. All kinds of mutts and mongrels--even a terrier who ate raw potatoes and learned how to shell peas ( I kid you not). We had a Dixie and a Pixie and a Prince and a Beauty and Rin Tin Tin. Blackie and Spot. Duke. Rexie (the terrier) Rusty. Ginger.Brownie. And those are the ones I remember. Today I do not have a dog--not because I don't want one--I do--but circumstances won't allow me. However, my neighbor does and I pet her whenever I see her. I consider it a beautiful day when I get to pet a dog. My kids love them as well. We had a neighbor who had three pugs and he used to walk them every morning past our house. I didn't take my son to Yeshiva til they passed and we could pet them for a few minutes. It made the day blossom and bloom. Yes, the dog is Kulo Lev. My favorite animal in the wild? Tigers--they are beautiful, majestic creatures.
Annie, July 14, 2019 4:57 AM
Dogs shelling peas
An Indian friend had a dog who could shell peas. Fluffy is the only one I have ever heard of who could do this until now.
A tiger here in New Zealand killed his keeper (not on purpose) and her family did not want him to be put down as she had loved the tigers so much. He wasn't, thank goodness.
(51) Allen, March 11, 2016 4:14 AM
My best friend and gift
My pit bull dog, Malachi, recently turned 16 and is showing signs of advanced aging. A great sadness aches in my heart as I sent my companion struggle with old age. He's been a gift from above for sure, defending me when he was younger from a thieves entering my home. Now, his once muscled body, is so frail. Now he's wobbles on his feet, barely eats, though I feed him the best. I've cried to God, and today I repented for blaming him for aging and death, and released my beloved Malachi to God to have his will. I haven't known how to trust God with him, nor how to trust that I will see him again in heaven. I recognize that Malachi has been a special gift directly from Gods heart to me, I just have a terrible time letting go of the sadness of his final days. I've been prideful that I love my dog more than, God, and so I repented in the best way I know how. I just thank God for such a precious gift to me.
(50) Sarah, October 20, 2014 12:41 PM
do animals go to heaven ?
the article doesn't address whether animals go to heaven. Still, i'm very glad for what it says about G-d's love for animals. i lost my dog some years ago and miss him terribly. i'm looking forward to the day when we will be reunited in heaven because i believe that's where he is now, n where i'm going. Some people have had experiences of visiting heaven and seeing their pets there.. the thot that our pets go to heaven is a comfort for pet-lovers like me.
Joseph, September 27, 2015 2:18 AM
no heaven for non humans
The rambam hilchos tsuvah states expliciyly no heaven for animals
Meturaf, December 4, 2016 12:11 PM
The Rambam is one man.
Shamayim, Shamayim Ladoshem. How would the Rambam know what the setup for animals like a dog is. Our dog would sit quite as a mouse when it was time for kiddish, or other chagigas. Yes he knew food was somewhere in the mix, but he never whined or begged. He sat respectfully until we were ready to offer him a nosh. More Kibud Hashem then so many Jews you see today. He understood Hebrew, he protected my daughter and wife and home for 11 years till cancer took him, but it took him 2 years after the vets estimation of his time left. He was loved. We have such as thing as a Canaan dog, indigenous to Eretz in danger of being extinct. I would take the evidence of the Briya of Hashem of this amazing animal and his instinctual love of man, that there is a place where the nefesh chaya of this creature is given Hashems warmth and love as he use to give his master and was used to receiving. The Rambam could not possibly know how Hashem treats his briyot beneath Neshamat Adam, but I bet you the Rambam never had a dog in his life to protect him from a possible soneh Israel coming into his home to do him harm and he has no zchut to comment on the matter.
Anything else you have to say other then a pithy comment from one of our many sages?
(49) sher and pit bull petey, October 20, 2014 12:20 AM
G-d's gift of the dog!
We lost 2 elderly dogs within 4 months to cancer. One expected could happen when we rescued her, the other was a shock and came so fast as a tooth abcess one night that wasn't, it was mast cell cancer that matasticize throughout the body so fast. Surgery would be extensive into the jaw...how could we do that to our beloved animal familer. I would love to know why G-d made there lives so short. We then rescued our 1st pit bull. After several dogs throughout my life these past 6yrs have been amazing..so smart, loving,gentle,rewarding,loyal,friendly....we will only adopt pit bulls from now on...thank you G-d for pit bulls. It is YOU...NOT the dog...
(48) Michael, September 7, 2014 8:29 AM
Rabbi Levi, Bless your heart.
I happened to see this older article by chance. I read AISH at least 5 times a week and how I missed this wonderful article is amazing.,
My love for canines has always been the norm for me since childhood.
Funny thing was as I was reading this article my 3 year ild boardercollie got on the bed and started to nudge and lick my leg. It was like she want knew I was reading about the love of dogs. Thank you AlmightyFather !
I still mourn the dogs we had to put down in my life time. Last December, our Ira of 3 years old got a blood disorder and there was no hope. The family is still mourning his lost and we should of held a shiva.
The pain and depression is at times unbearable. We lst 3 dogs in 3 years and it really hurt.
Only an animal lover can relateto the pain. We have urns of their remains and they will be buried with us.
Again, my love and prayers for AISH being what it is, G-d' gift to all of us readers., May the Almighty bless all the staff at AISH, Israel and all Jews of Zion.
(47) A on, August 31, 2014 3:49 PM
Animals are special but...
Cats can also be very special loving animals. I owned an extremely living cat for several years. However I think people need to not place too much emphasis on their pets. G d makes it clear that while animals are to be respected they are not people with Peoples ' souls. We can't really connect with pets on the same level as people.when people say they love their pets more than people it is sad because it's not supposed to be that way . G d makes it clear that people should be the priority in our lives and we should work to cultivate people to people relationships - not with pets!!
(46) Talia, July 30, 2014 3:43 PM
Beautiful!
Thank you for writing such a beautiful piece. The saying goes that humans domesticated dogs and in the process made them more human. I would say its the reverse--dogs, with their unconditional love, lack of resentment, and sheer joie de vivre, have made people more human.
(45) Phil, May 7, 2014 4:47 AM
Dogs and halacha
Here's a relatively comprehensive review on halachic attitudes towards dog ownership, by Rabbi Jachter: http://www.daat.ac.il/daat/english/halacha/jachter_1.htm
(44) Gary Katz, April 7, 2014 4:21 PM
One more question
I'd love to read a further analysis of why G-d gave dogs such short lifespans. They're such marvelous companions, yet we get to enjoy their company for no more than 15 years, for the most part.
(43) Kelly Rebekah ben Maimon, April 6, 2014 11:40 PM
Thought provoking commentary
Thank you for sharing this article Rabbi. Have always had dogs in my life. Max (brindle staffordshire bull terrier) has been with us for 12 years and a bundle of joy! He has a permanent smile on his face , and particularly enjoys Shabbat evenings at the moment candles are lit. It is almost as if he senses the occasion.
(42) Ruth Housman, April 6, 2014 3:04 PM
DOG is GOD read backwards/ Man's BEST FRIEND
Dogs, give unconditional LOVE.
I can and have made, on line, many times, a cogent argument that states, quite clearly, that all Creation is imbued with the Image, the Stamp of the CREATOR, and that in fact, the very names of the animals, and their habits, their very lives, are deeply metaphoric of our lives, in every possible way. I used the word BEAR recently to explicate this, on line, on my Facebook Page, and I am writing a language-based story that is deeply about the "Nature" of things. So if anyone is so impelled to take a look for themselves, this page, entirely about the alchemy of language, crossing Babel, Gate in Sanskrit, is extant. But it's not necessary to look at my page. Examine for yourself the myriad language and metaphoric connectivity that binds them, to Us. In deep, compassionate, sensate ways, THEY ARE US.
(41) Theunis, March 18, 2014 10:02 AM
Love dogs an d all.
It is said that all that is, is holy.
Why would anyone create something without a purpose is senseless.
(40) Anonymous, January 24, 2014 11:25 AM
I work with the rabbi, and he thought you raised a great question and one that every person should contemplate in choosing his/her lifestyle. There are, in fact, many observant rabbis who do endorse vegetarianism for that very reason (the prohibition of "tzaar baalei chayim"-- causing pain to animals). Many base their practices of eating meat on the written Torah's allowance of the consumption of animals for personal pleasure, while many others hold that this allowance was not given to the Jews as an ideal eating habit, rather as a necessity for survival in the desert which no longer calls for meat consumption today. Thank you for your wonderful insights and kol hakavod for exercising your love for all of G-d's creatures in such a meaningful way.
(39) Sarah Rivka :), January 10, 2014 8:24 PM
Another example of compassion for animals being used as a measure
Eliezer chose Rivka to be Yitzchak's wife because she fulfilled the sign that he asked Hashem to send: That she would not only give him water but also water his camels.
(38) Karl, January 9, 2014 7:01 PM
My Dog
My dogs pick me up, when I'm down, they make me exercise when I want to be fat and lazy. They protect me and everybody in my household from unwanted guest, seen and unseen. They sense evil in people who portray false friendships and let me know it. They show affection and loyalty without question, when I return from work. They do so much more for us, than we do for them. They are family.
Churlie, January 12, 2014 7:57 PM
Why fat?
We all understand the tendency to be lazy. But why do you want to be fat?
(37) Marvin owner of whisky G, January 9, 2014 2:47 AM
the real status
I love my dog (and his feelings to me are reciprocal).
Yet what Judaism's real take on dogs?
Who are dogs? Historically:
*a protector of Cain? - maybe
*one of two animals to have banned relations on the teva?
*not barking when the last night in Egypt
........dogs like voluntary slaves, traded their "freedom" and dependency on G-d for dependency on a human master. For this they loose points and are said to have a disconnect from G-d. (This said, I hope that my dog will be at my "non"feet encouraging me on as I sit in the great bais medresh in the next world). That their appreciation of their human masters knows no bounds is a lesson to us in hakoress hatov that we need to emulate for our master.
Dog spelled backward is ......yes god. It is not that we view them as a G-d, but rather that they view and treat us (the providers of their physical, mental and emotional needs) as a G-d. How can you not love a creature who in exchange for a little food water and walks has unending appreciation.
There is no question that dogs are great friends, add to our lives and make us feel great (often thereby allowing us to forge on and accomplish greater things as a result of the good feelings provided), yet I would appreciate further input from others as to Orthodox Judaism's real perspective on dogs.
I would appreciate others
Anonymous, January 24, 2014 11:08 AM
I work with the rabbi, and he wanted to share that he loves your idea about dogs teaching us a lesson of hakaras hatov. May your dog be blessed with many more happy years!
(36) eve beili, January 8, 2014 7:32 PM
how do you justify factory farming
I am sure that God would love dogs and any creature he created
I don't understand how we as Jews have separated our compassion and caring for the earth with the way we raise our food and clothing. If indeed God has given us the earth and creatures to care for and if indeed we have strict rules about how we treat these creatures how are we allowed to eat and wear animals that have been enslaved and tortured?
(35) RR, January 8, 2014 5:08 PM
Does g-d love pigs?
how is g-d's love for the pig reconciled with the treatment the pig gets in the Torah. Or better question why is the love for pigs manifested in such an interesting and singled out manner.
(34) Chaya, January 8, 2014 4:11 PM
Fear of dogs imbedded in racial memory of Ashkenazim
I heard someone once say that Jews (particulary those from Europe) tend to have a fear of canines due to racial memories of the times when the goyim set their dogs on us (Nazis Yemach shmom loved their dogs and set them on Jews and even now in Europe I have heard stories from British Jews (particulary in Gateshead) where the non-Jewish Brits still set their dogs on Jews.). I have always been afraid of dogs... in my childhood nightmares the forbidding dark did not contain monsters but dogs. I think it was a fear I was born with and I know other Jews that share the same fear. Even now I have the posuk (uvechol bnei yisroel lo...) in the forefront of my memory as I live in a dog loving suburb so I say it often. Personally I think dogs don't smell nice and mychildhood fear still lingers... along with the horror stories of dogs turning on owners. Also, I see how families can be drawn into depression whne their dogs die... and human's lifespan is about 6 times as much as dogs.
Has anyone encountered a similar phenomenon?
(33) Anonymous, January 8, 2014 3:51 PM
Thank You!
Thank you, Tova, for your work with the cats! As I type this, our three rescued dogs nap at my feet and our two shelter cats are curled up nearby. All are spayed or neutered. This is an uphill battle, I'm afraid, but one little soul at a time ~
(32) Raphael, January 8, 2014 12:46 PM
Cats
Does anyone know where cats are mentioned in Tanach?
(31) Jones, January 7, 2014 6:23 PM
dogs in Jewish writings
I liked the message in this article, but at the same time, I once read a collection of references to dogs in Jewish literature (probably culled from the Bar Ilan CD) and it seems that about 95% of the references to dogs were negative.
dvora, January 7, 2014 8:23 PM
Doubt that any reference to dogs was negative
Dogs don't do evil like humans ,who have that capacity. I would read the article again.
Dogs can be trusted unless you abuse them.
(30) Lisa, January 7, 2014 4:27 PM
I love this article
I just want to say that I love this article. Thank you Rabbi Levi!!
(29) PETER, January 7, 2014 2:30 PM
Love our dogs
Yes I love my dogs some time than people as their love is so unconditional and true to us their owners we have three small dogs Jack Russells who are a hand full but love us so much and Yorkie so sweet like a child .
Shalom
(28) Debra, January 7, 2014 1:21 PM
As I was reading my daily e-mail from Aish this morning, the link to this article was at the bottom of the page. It is so timely as we had to put our precious dog of 14 years down yesterday to end his suffering. I wept all day & again now. Sydney was a gift from God to teach me unconditional love from a male. He far exceeded that in teaching me so many things that ultimately improved my character. He brought me comfort when I was sad, companionship when I was lonely & much joy. He was a Therapy Dog for several years & it was amazing to see the countless & amazing things that happened in the lives of the people he touched. I learned before I got him how to train him & how to care for him. I am so thankful for that discipline as it made a big difference in how our lives together turned out.
I have now learned the meaning of the word dog- "all love". My Sydney was truly that. I miss him so...thank you for your timely article.
Anonymous, January 7, 2014 8:24 PM
so sad for your loss
My sympathy to you for the loss of your best friend. It is truly tragic. My sympathy once again, D vora
Debra Nicholson, January 8, 2014 2:22 PM
Thank you. My tears of sadness were mixed with joy as I read your post because you called me Dvora...it's the first time I have been called by my Hebrew name. Again thank you for your expression of sympathy & for touching my soul.
(27) Bar Mitzvah Man, January 7, 2014 2:50 AM
Great Article
Rabbi Levi,
You are a 10 out of 10!
-Yehuda
(26) Sarah, January 7, 2014 12:04 AM
kilev
Growing up on a farm we always had dogs and I absolutely loved each and every one of them. Might I add that if you change the nekudot on the word kelev, it can become kilev--like the heart--dogs have the hearts of their owners and the owners have the hearts of their dogs. so thank you for this article--how refreshing--when I see my local neighbors terrified of the dogs in the area, i try to explain how important they are and while we can't be afraid of them, we have to show respect and be careful on how we treat t hem and approach them. I wish I had a dog now--a beagle--my favorite
(25) Ruth Dreyer, January 6, 2014 9:09 PM
Good article
Rabbi Levi, it's great to see you on Aish! Shalom from Pretoria and sometimes Berkeley.
(24) lizzie, January 6, 2014 8:25 PM
fur leather wool angora
I encourage all of us to take a look at what we are wearing and where it comes from, in respect to fashion and clothing. Many animals being tortured for fashionable clothing it breaks my heart. I am a vegetarian and if you have a minute go over to peta.org and see all those videos of how most animal skin is taken with animals being skinned alive. Thank you for this story it immensely touched my heart. Shalom
Anonymous, July 10, 2019 2:58 AM
PETA are wrong
I am a vegetarian but know that PETA's claims are often untrue, especially about wool. They show a video taken in Australia of sheep being illtreated by the shearers, The fact that this was filmed is an indication that it is NOT the usual practice. Sheep are shorn humanely, and I'd guess that someone took this for evidence of a crime. I live in New Zealand and a sheep farm is across the road.
The sheep are NOT hacked about when they are shorn (apart from anything else, it would spoil the wool) and they are NOT skinned for wool. That's like cutting down an apple tree to get the fruit rathee than picking it.If it's shorn, the wool grows back to make another lot of fibre, Leaving sheep unshorn is very cruel. They can die of heatstroke or have fly-strike (very nasty)
PETA do themselves no favours by their claims that sheep are killed for wool. It's obviously untrue.
They wanted a New Zealand aquarium (where the fish are kept in conditions exactly like the wild) to stop selling fish and chips in the restaurant because it was disrespectful to the fish, PETA seemed to think that the fish sold there was taken from the ones in the aquarium, which it wasn't, of course.
Annie, July 10, 2019 7:25 AM
I see shorn sheep across the road and never yet have I seen a gashed one.
PETA also claim that drinking milk will cause autism and had a campaign comparing animals being butchered with the Holocaust. They put the posters outside a kosher slaughtehouse, I am revolted by the thought of eating meat, but would never insult the Holocaust victims by making this comparison.
They have a video that equates artificial insemination of cows with rape; an appallinginsult to rape victims !
I hate the idea of fur but don't believe that the animals are skinned alive; this makes no sense. It would be much harder to do, if nothing else.
PETA have been exposed as lying fanatics. Even their logo is an aggressive clenched fist...an age old gesture whose meaning is not too hard to work out. Yes, it does mean that.
Anonymous, July 14, 2019 5:06 AM
I used to breed angora rabbits, and can assure people that in the vast majority of cases the fibre is NOT obtained by torturing and/or skinning the animals, alive or dead. There have been a few cases where the rabbits are ill-treated, but this would be a very stupid thing to do. The fibre would be dirty and contaminated, apart from anything else ! Ours were plucked which doesn't hurt as it's loose fibre like loose human hairs. It doesn't hurt people to lose the hairs that we all do every day. They would sit on our knees, quite happy and peaceful. We also sheared them with special clippers. Many were done without needing any sort of restraint (the odd fussy one needed to be held down)
PETA do more harm than good with their stupid claims.
They claim that when fish are pulled up out of the sea, their eyes and guts burst out of their bodies. Utter rubbish as anyone who's seen fish in a shop will know.
I don't eat meat or fish, but am disgusted by PETA's lying statements.
(23) Anonymous, January 6, 2014 7:09 PM
the more I deal with humans, the better I love animals
(22) Miriam, January 6, 2014 4:12 PM
Perhaps you should rethink the paragraph
about the animals being created before man. I wouldn't say the Talmud is saying how you put it but rather that man has the capacity to become lower than an animal, like the Nazis, for example. A very different message.
Though I agree that G- d loves animals. After all, He made them!
(21) Sarah, January 6, 2014 12:25 PM
Thank you
Thank you for this wonderful piece--I'm sharing it with all my fellow dog-lovers!
(20) Stephen, January 6, 2014 8:06 AM
Letters of name
Even English language unwittingly (or maybe not) has name of dog read backwards = God.
I strive to be the kind of person my dog thinks I am.
George, January 6, 2014 5:58 PM
terrible
Your making a similarity by spelling the word backwards shows such a gigantic disrespect of our Creator, blessed be His Name, that I am in a shock.. I never heard anything so terrible in my entire life. I feel sick.
Anonymous, January 7, 2014 8:28 PM
please George
oh please George, gimme a break. Dogs are sacred- like children.
Anonymous, July 10, 2019 7:26 AM
Old word play
This one is not funny but it's not original, it's probably been around as long as the two words have.
(19) Joan, January 6, 2014 2:22 AM
God did create dogs.Where would I be with out mine.?
Faithful,loving,devoted and funny. What more could I ask for?
(18) Anonymous, January 5, 2014 11:13 PM
HUNTING SHOULD BE BANNED INTERNATIONALLY
I don't understand how governments allow hunting and poaching but then I guess their greed for money is more than their care for animals. I watched a documentary on tv about lions being bred and hunted on private farms here in South Africa and when they die their bones are sold to the Chinese/Asian market. The documentary it stated that the biggest and most influential hunting clubs have leaders from so called " Upper-class" like presidents, kings, millioniars etc. Its sad that man can buy vast amounts of land just to breed animals to torture or hunt. The real dumb ass and dirty swine is a man that ill treats animals or one that hates them. I think celebrities like musicians, actors and beauty queens should use their fame to influence people to care for if not love animals, and call for the ban on hunting, and the closure of private farms that breeds animals for hunting. Maybe the Mosquito is GOD's way of trying to teach us a lesson that hunting or ill-treating animals is wrong! I wish GOD would punish people that are cruel to animals in a way that others can see and fear.
jason, January 16, 2014 3:15 PM
To anti-hunter
While I certainly understand your response when it comes to sport hunting animals such as lions or bears as I do also agree that there is no place on earth where this should take place.
It does sound like the rest of your response towards hunting isn't very well thought out, emotional, and perhaps juvenile. I take it you are vegetarian? If not, how can you condone an animal such as an adult male deer which there are specific hunting seasons for, which spends much of its life out in the wild eating organic berries and nuts, then to be harvested, violently perhaps, but will provide enough food to stock somebody's freezer for much of a winter. I also know of many people and organization who have excess to donate the rest of the meat to homeless shelters and organizations. Is this so much more cruel as you state than cows and chickens that are forced to live in close quarters in filth, horrible inhumane conditions, maltreated just for a profit which is where most of our meat comes from the supermarket?
There are plenty of people who depend on hunting for food who live in the hinterland of the US. I would not dare tell them the government should not allow them to hunt. Hunting also plays a huge part in conservation of land. You may have been in populated areas where you've seen the number of deer which pose a serious risk to drivers. Hunting does provide curbing of over population in many areas. We as humans have moved in on the animals habitat, maybe the government should have us limit having only a few children, this way we don't continue to encroach on their land? Invasive Wild boar are reaking havoc to farmers in the Southeast, hunting and trapping is the only way to save their land from the invasive wild boar. Maybe we should let the swine overrun their farm land? I think your hearts in the right place, but perhaps you need to think of the ramifications of having the government limit something such as hunting and the affect it may have on us all.
(17) Rachel, January 5, 2014 10:51 PM
Dogs' Sixth Sense
Although I am not up to the responsibility of owning a dog, I get a lot of satisfaction from making occasional donations to Guide Dogs for the Blind. How dogs help us by guiding blind people, helping epileptics & sensing when they're going to have a seizure, and cheering up so many lonely people, especially the elderly, through therapy visits, just amazes me! Thank you for such a sensitively written article!
Anonymous, July 10, 2019 7:32 AM
dog & seizure
A friend used to dogsit a dog who was terrified of thunderstorms. Fido would be driven to her house by his parents on their way out.
One day she heard frantic banging on her front door. There stood Fido, demanding that she follow him. She did, and went to his house where the people's daughter had had a major seizure. This happened twice, then the medication stopped the seizures.
Fido (not his real name, but I have forgotten what this was) had been to the house in a car in the dark. He was not a trained helper dog.
By the way, PETA disapproves of service dogs and is trying to undermine and sabotage them. They have even stolen some !
(16) martin, January 5, 2014 10:23 PM
blessing
We have 3 small Poodles..They are so loving and intelligent.they are like a blessing in our old age.
(15) mike, January 5, 2014 10:17 PM
do dogs have a soul?
what is the "classic "answer to the question of animals having souls? if not, what would they each animal's life-force?
(14) Anonymous, January 5, 2014 10:10 PM
love your articles!
Levi, we love your thoughtful and insightful articles. You make Berkeley proud. Mrs. Foofy
Anonymous, January 6, 2014 12:42 PM
Ditto
Ditto and ditto!! Kol haKavod & continued b'Hatzlacha!
(13) Anonymous, January 5, 2014 7:15 PM
Yes, I agree, but...
Thank you for a thoughtful article. What I would like to know is where we draw the line when it comes to pets? Pets don't just show up at our door steps. This is a well controlled industry, for the most part: 43 billion dollar in the US, alone. As of now, one can take small pets on-board, airplanes. Several airlines allow it. Most hotel chains allow pets to sleep in hotels. I know for a fact that a lot of pet owners allow their cats (some even small dogs) to sleep at the foot of their bed with them. Now, how comforting is that next time you stay at one of these hotels. Do hotels change the bed covers when they change the sheets? Surely they don't change the chairs and the sofa and the carpets? Anyone allergic to pets? Depending on which stats you wish to believe, the stats are high. And, if you have asthma, then you have serious problems. You cannot get rid of dander by vacuuming.
A friend called me the other day and shared with me an article he was reading on a United flight. It was about new home owners who demand that architects build houses that are pet friendly. This particular article featured a married couple, no children, who owned 5 dogs. They had to have an area where they could bathe their pets, where their pets have a recreational area, etc.
Nobody disagrees with the premise that animals should be treated with respect. That is a given. I think that all creation should be treated with respect. But, pets have become consumer products. Pets are now like jeans or shirts or shoes or any other commodity. We create the product and then we sell it. That, to me anyway, is not respecting the animal. It is treating it as a thing.
Dvirah, January 6, 2014 5:20 PM
Not Always
My family has always had dogs and cats and not once were they purchased - each one came in a unique way, from just showing up on the doorstep to being rescued squashed from under a car. While you do have a point, please try not to be so dogmatic. (A pun here, by the way!)
(12) Matt_Writes, January 5, 2014 6:44 PM
Kudos!
I loved it! I'm a friend of your brother's by the way. :)
(11) Enid, January 5, 2014 5:02 PM
Only our pets can give us unconditional love.
Animals are the only innocents on earth. That's one reason that we hate to see them suffer.
(10) Barbara Estes, January 5, 2014 4:51 PM
For the Love of Dogs
I so totally loved this article. I always believed that GOD loved animals, As it says in the Bible,God didn't want the lamb to be slayed.HE saved the lamb;he had Noah build an ark and had the animals go in two by two;he created the Gnat before HE created man.We have to educate people to respect all animals and to learn to love them as they love themselves. Animals have feelings,they are alive,they hurt emotionally and physically;they get depressed,they feel unhappy,sad,etc.People who torture animals should be tortured themselves.
Frances MDuff, January 5, 2014 8:35 PM
WHEN YOU SPELL DOG BACKWARDS YOU GET GOD
Having many dogs in my life I find them much nicer than people.
I feel a dog is special and close to G-d because they love
unconditionally. Dogs are not bad but there are many bad
dog owners. My best friends are dogs.
(9) Malka, January 5, 2014 4:47 PM
Considering the Millions of Dogs and Cats Euthanized Annually ...
Does this seem like love?
"It is a violation of Jewish law to neuter a pet. The Torah prohibits castrating males of any species (Lev. 22:24). Although this law does not apply to neutering female pets, neutering of females is prohibited by general laws against tza'ar ba'alei chayim (causing suffering to animals)." Judaism 101
Tova Saul, January 6, 2014 5:57 AM
Good Point. However........
There are some rabbis who specify how spay/neuter can be done halachically. For details, anyone can call me in Jerusalem (where I trapped, neutered and released 67 cats in and near the Jewish Quarter in the Old City in 2013) at 02 628 3521.
You are right. Many rabbis, like many people in general, are not aware of the enormous number of dogs and cats that flood all animal shelters due to people not spaying, and they don't realize that most of them will be euthanized for lack of space and funding. If every school curriculum included bringing kids to these shelters at bar mitzva age and explained the facts to them, we would see a revolution vis a vis spaying. As it stands now, most people never heard the word "spay", or they feel it is "against nature" and therefore wrong. Open heart surgery and flying in an airplane are "against nature, too.
(8) Sa, January 5, 2014 4:23 PM
Dogs are a gift
What a beautiful article! We have 2 rescue dogs and indeed they are "all heart". I've often felt that dogs were a gift from G-d. Everyone should have such loyalty and love. They teach us how to be in the moment and how to be joyful and appreciate life.
(7) Adina keschner, January 5, 2014 4:21 PM
God loves doges
After reading this wonderfull article I was somewhat confused on how it is that Soooo many religious Jews are afraid of and dislike dogs,and even more so cats.My husband is a vet and I attended Vetschool as well and we take care of animals domesticated or wildlife all the time at any time of the day and therefore are exposed frequently to people who just don't get it.
It is our(the humans)responsibility to take care of the animals because they are created by God just like we are.They should not be abused under no surcumstances,even if they are bred for consumption.We,Gods chosen,have the responsibility to stand up against all the abuse in the meat market going on and we should all educate ourselves about it.There is plenty of information to be gotten on about this.We should all make the time to get involved and not support all the cruelty against animals by being very carefull where and what meat and poultry we buy for consumption.I know I am going beyond the original dog idea but other animals are just as important,if not more so because of their numbers and because of their suffering.
I hope my writing will at least touch one persons heart.It is time we,the Jewish people become the role models for the other nations in the way we treat animals meant for consumption.Having suppervision on how the animal is killed should not be enough to make the meat kosher!
Thir should be a serious suppervision on the conditions under which these animals were raised and only if these conditions are humane should the animal be allowed to be slaugtered according to Jewish law.We owe it to God and to the Jewish people.
(6) Diane, January 5, 2014 4:21 PM
I love the message in this article
We have a dog, and was told by trainers that we should eat first, so I am so glad that I have been following Hashem's will whenI feed my dog before myself.
It is known that the worst serial killers who killed humans with their own hands, began by killing animals with their own hands. My husband grew up on a farm where his duty was to take care of and feed the animals before eating his own breakfast.
Although I had lived in Israel and knew that kelev meant dog, I had no idea the origin. I love it. Also, in English, dog is g-d spelled backwards. Not that one would call a dog, that, but shows that a dog is close to G-d's heart as to ours.
Thank you for this article. I will share it with other dog loving friends. Jewish and not. B"H
jason, January 10, 2014 4:33 AM
humans eating before dog..
The reason the trainer recommended that you eat before feeding dogs is to demonstrate and show leadership as the alpha wolf eats first in the wild. Just one of the tricks trainers use to establish alpha leadership in a household which results in a more emotionally stable and well behaved dog.
Positive based dog trainers find this not as useful as positive dog treat training but still may be necessay as with very dominant dogs or they may run the house.
Yoga saul, July 9, 2019 2:56 PM
I could telll that a man wrote this
No woman would relate to her dog as to "who's the alpha".
Donna M, September 7, 2019 7:54 PM
Women as "Alpha Dog"
As a woman who trained all of my dogs to 2 Therapy Certifications & trained & handled several in Obedience Competition, I can assure you that I was the Alpha to the dogs. This had nothing to do with my relationship with or my submission to my husband.
Moreover, altho disabled, I was more mobile then. I trained my own Service Dog who also visited the local nursing home weekly. 1st visit there she gave 1 patient a big slurpy kiss (against the rules.) I didn't understand why my "perfect" dog would transgress. But! The patient called out happily "she loves ME!" I learned that she was shunned by the other patients & so spent all day in a chair, refusing to walk. 2 weeks later she walked 'round both floors with us so she could stay next to Tara.
[BTW, Tara came everywhere with me, including religious services, where she behaved with respect & silence.]
(5) Tovye, January 5, 2014 4:18 PM
Dogs have Neshamas
And I can prove it with Torah. In the Ark, 3 species were said to sin: humans, dogs, and crows/ravens. You can't sin if you don't have a Neshama.
Not that they have a human Neshama, but there is something there. And every dog owner can confirm what I am saying.
(4) Tova Saul, January 5, 2014 4:07 PM
Refreshing to see a pro-animal article....
.....in a religious website. Thank you to the writer and to Aish.
(3) Anonymous, January 5, 2014 3:26 PM
Fwedwika?
How cute is that! Lol. My animals have taught me the meaning of innocence and trust in G-d.
(2) Poppy, January 5, 2014 10:56 AM
Hitler had a dog named Blondie whom he loved. That did not stop him from killing 6 million Jews love for animals translate to love of people? I don't think so..
Ben, January 5, 2014 4:00 PM
Hitler killed his dog
Hitler killed his dog before killing himself- a very trivial fact in the big picture. But the last ounce of pain he inflicted while living was on a dog.
Annie, July 10, 2019 7:42 AM
Blondi was poisoned.
He made Blondi take a cyanide pill to see how well these worked.
He had other dogs, Blonda, Blonda and Mucki.
Tova Saul, January 5, 2014 4:04 PM
There are exceptions to every rule.....
If what you write is really true (and I never heard of it), there are exceptions to every rule. But generally, people who are kind to animals also tend to be kind to people.
Anonymous, January 6, 2014 5:25 PM
Atitude
Hitler did not recognise Jews as "people". In fact, it is stricking that those who would oppress others must deny their victims' humanity. There are repeated references to Jews as "sub-human" - and I think in Hitler's mind, sub-animal also.
(1) Chaim, January 5, 2014 9:02 AM
Thank you
Thank you for such a useful, beautiful article.