Do Orthodox Jews Have Pets?

I get this question more than you might expect: "Do Orthodox Jews have pets?" The short answer is yes. The longer answer is: yes, but it is complicated, and not for the reasons you think.

There is no prohibition in Jewish law against owning pets. Dogs, cats, fish, hamsters, birds — all perfectly fine. In fact, the Torah places enormous emphasis on treating animals with kindness. The concept of tzaar baalei chaim (preventing animal suffering) is a Torah-level obligation. You are halachically required to feed your animals before you sit down to eat your own meal. That is not a suggestion — it is law. My kids know that the fish get fed before breakfast. Every morning, without exception.

Pets in the Orthodox Community

That said, pet ownership is less common in Orthodox communities than in the general population, and there are some practical reasons for that:

Large families — When you have four, six, eight kids, adding a pet to the mix is... ambitious. I have four children. Some days, keeping them fed, clothed, and reasonably clean uses up every ounce of my energy. A dog on top of that? My husband floated the idea once. I gave him a look. The idea was not floated again.

Small living spaces — Many Orthodox families in urban areas like Brooklyn or Jerusalem live in apartments. A golden retriever in a two-bedroom apartment with six people is not ideal.

Shabbat considerations — You cannot carry a pet outside on Shabbat without an eruv. You cannot directly open a can of pet food using a can opener (since that could involve creating a new vessel). You cannot tell your dog to fetch, because directing an animal to do work on Shabbat raises halachic questions. These are not insurmountable issues, but they add layers of planning.

Pesach — If your pet eats chametz-based food (which most commercial pet food contains), you need to switch to chametz-free food for Pesach or sell the chametz food along with your regular chametz. This is a real logistical consideration that pet-owning Orthodox families deal with every year.

Which Pets Are Common?

Fish are probably the most popular pets in Orthodox homes. They are quiet, they do not need walks, they do not create Shabbat problems, and kids love watching them. We have had fish. Several rounds of fish, actually. The lifespan of fish in our home is a topic we do not discuss.

Birds and hamsters are also common, especially for families with young children. They are contained, manageable, and teach responsibility.

Dogs are less common in the Chassidic world but perfectly normal in Modern Orthodox communities. In Israel, dogs are fairly common across the religious spectrum. There is no halachic problem with owning a dog, though some communities have cultural reservations. There is an old folk tradition (not halachic) that Jews traditionally did not keep dogs, but this does not have the force of law.

Cats show up frequently, sometimes intentionally and sometimes because a stray adopted the family. Cats are lower maintenance than dogs and cause fewer Shabbat complications.

Torah Values and Animals

Judaism has a deep ethic of animal welfare. Beyond the requirement to feed your animals first, there are numerous halachic protections for animals:

• You cannot muzzle an ox while it is threshing grain (it must be allowed to eat)
• You must help unload a burden from a struggling animal, even if it belongs to your enemy
• You cannot slaughter a mother animal and her young on the same day
• Shechitah (kosher slaughter) is designed to minimize suffering
• Hunting for sport is viewed very negatively in Jewish tradition

These laws paint a picture of a tradition that takes animal welfare seriously — not as an afterthought, but as a core value. So yes, you can have a pet. And if you do, the Torah expects you to treat it very well.

The Bottom Line

Orthodox Jews can absolutely have pets. Some do, some do not. The ones who do navigate certain halachic considerations, but those are manageable with a little planning. And the families that have pets tend to take the responsibility seriously — because in Judaism, caring for a creature in your charge is not just a nice thing to do. It is a divine obligation.

My kids are still campaigning for a dog, by the way. I am still saying no. But I have learned never to say never.