Is It Permissible to Raise a Dog at Home?

The stance of Judaism regarding pets is seemingly unclear. On one hand, the Torah seriously addresses the issue of animal suffering, detailing how one should treat their household animals. On the other hand, most observant Jews do not keep pets, sometimes due to the common belief that they are impure. How can this contradiction be reconciled? From a halachic perspective, is there a prohibition against owning a harmless poodle? What about fish, parrots, and other animals that decorate our homes? There are answers to all these questions - not necessarily purely from a legal standpoint."The Talmud states that one is forbidden to bring a dangerous dog into the home, as the verse says, 'Do not place blood in your home,'" explains Rabbi Yitzchak Gabay. "This refers to something dangerous that could cause harm. This applies to dangerous dogs, unless they are necessary for purposes like guarding or protection. Regarding all other dogs, in principle, halachically, there is no problem keeping such dogs at home. This also applies to animals that pose no danger at all, like cats."

So why are there hardly any religious, particularly Haredi, families that keep pets?

"The Talmud writes that if someone is worthy of being visited by Elijah the Prophet and has a dog at home - regardless if it's a Pinscher or a Poodle - Elijah will not reveal himself to them. Even though we are not worthy of Elijah's revelation anyway, it's a sign that this lowers one's spiritual level."

And what about cats and other animals?

"In general, it is advisable for one to invest most of their energy in raising their children. However, if someone chooses to raise a dog, halachically, there's no issue."

Isn't the Torah supposed to encourage humanitarian adoption of stray animals from the streets?

"In nature, animals manage beautifully. It was only when humans entered and started adopting animals that the problem began. Suddenly, every stray dog is considered an abandoned dog. But before we even raised all these animals, we must remember they lived in nature much better."Rabbi Gabay mentions that the phrase 'animal suffering' originates halachically. According to the Torah, if a person raises an animal, they must feed it before eating themselves. "It is written in the verse, 'And you shall give grass in your fields for your cattle, then you may eat and be satisfied.'"Rabbi Yiftach Sofer also notes the great responsibility resting on a person's shoulders. "Many do not bring animals into their homes due to fear of animal suffering. From the animal's perspective, it seems each parrot would prefer to be free than in a closed cage, a fish would prefer to be in the sea than in an aquarium, and a dog would rather be free than confined in a home or kennel."

But for street cats, it's better to live in a warm, pampered home than to roam trash bins.

"Who said it's better for a cat at home? Even people want to be with friends in their natural environment. It's true that at home the cat is more pampered, but we are not great psychologists capable of understanding a cat's soul and being so sure she's better off with us."