Question: Can I walk and clean up after my dog on the Sabbath (Shabbat)?
Dear Rabbi Lerner
I need to walk my dog every day, not just to "go", but for exercise, as well. This means that a) I need to carry her leash, and b) since I pick up after her, I need to carry that until I can throw it away. Carrying "that", of all things, seems un-Shabbasdik, but surely it's worse to leave it in the street. Neglecting her basic needs constitutes cruelty. What should I do? Somehow I don't think people "walked dogs" back in the Torah!
Sincerely, and with best wishes,
Jantique
Answer: Dear Jantique,
Thanks for writing and it is an interesting question.
If you are concerned about "carrying" from a private domain into a
public domain and back, then I can only assume that you live in an area with an eruv that would permit "carrying" on Shabbat. If you are unconcerned, then the issue of carrying the leash seems not to be your major question. But if it is in use with your dog, then it is not technically carrying but a shared bond.
Cleaning up after an animal is required either by law or good
citizenship, but is it not possible to have your dog do her business in your yard - a private domain - clean up and then go for walk for the sake of exercise. As far as handling feces on Shabbat, we care for children and in the eyes of many, an animal has almost the same status in a home.
At this point the leash is attached to the animal and not carried, and it would appear to resolve both issues.
I must confess that as a non-dog owner, you have only encouraged me to appreciate my freedom from certain animal needs and concerns. :-)
Rabbi Dov
