Shabbos 19

“One may put food before the dog in the courtyard.”

Putting aside the comparison of giving food to someone who is not Jewish, I was really pleased to see the reference to a dog. This resonates with the passage in Berakhot 40 that said: “it is forbidden to eat prior to giving food to one’s animal.”

I live with two Siamese cats and have always fed them before myself in the morning. Today’s reading suggests that we should take care of our animals even on the Sabbath and ensure they are fed properly. The Talmud advocates for respecting the animals we live with. 2,000 years ago, they may have been working animals that provided important support to one’s household. Today they provide support of a different kind. And especially today, with what the world is living through. We need the love of every being around us in order to soldier through these difficult times, including our companion animals.

There has been a surge in people fostering sheltering pets through this crisis. The New York Times reported last week that when an animal shelter sent out an appeal to foster 200 pets, it was deluged with requests from 2,000 potential foster parents. According to the article, people who never thought they were home enough to take care of a pet are now sheltering in place and looking for furry companionship. 

I know we all have our challenges right now. Many people are out of work and many of us are terrified for what is coming next. Those with jobs and families are struggling to work from home and take care of young children. We can’t visit our older parents for fear we will contaminate them. Our spring holidays are being canceled.  For me, I am challenged with living alone quarantined in a small city apartment. I am grateful for the company of my two very needy Siamese cats who chatter at me all day. They are now designated my work-from-home human resource department. They always insist I feed them first thing in the morning, and I am committed to making sure they are nurtured and taken care of. If something good has come from this crisis, it is that so many shelter animals are finding foster parents who are making the same commitment. And hopefully it is forever.