Chapter 87 : Things You Must Heed Concerning Animals and Fowl

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§1

It is written [in the Torah]: "... so that your ox and donkey may rest ..." Here the Torah commands us that the animals of a Jew must also rest [on Shabbos]; and not only cattle, but all animals. Therefore, it is forbidden to allow your animal to carry out a load, because even if the animal went out on its own, into the public domain carrying a burden, you have violated a positive command of the Torah. Even if the object [the animal is carrying] is ornamental, nevertheless, it is [considered] a burden. However, if the purpose of the object is to heal [the animal], such as a bandage on a wound, the animal may go out with it. Similarly, anything the animal requires for its safekeeping, is considered like a garment for a human being and the animal may go out with it. But something which is for excessive safeguarding is forbidden. Similarly, an object that this [particular] animal cannot be safeguarded with, though another animal can be safeguarded with it, is considered a burden for this animal and is forbidden.

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§2

A horse may walk out with a halter or a bridle but not with both. You may wrap the halter straps around its neck and it may go out with it, provided it is wrapped loosely so that you may easily insert your hand between the wrapped [straps] and its neck, to restrain it, should it attempt to run off. You may handle the halter and place it on the animal but you may not lean on it because it is forbidden to lean on any animal on Shabbos. However, a donkey may not walk out with an iron bridle because that is an excessive safeguard for a donkey. An ox or a cow which do not require safeguarding, are forbidden to be taken out with a rope around its neck, unless they have a habit of running away. A rope tied on the horse's mouth is considered a burden because it is not safeguarded by it, since it slips off its mouth. This is not comparable to a halter which is tied to its head.

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§3

Horses, as well as other animals, must not go out wearing a pack-saddle. Only a donkey may go out with a pack-saddle to protect it from cold, because by nature it easily catches cold. If you tied the saddle on the donkey before Shabbos, it may go out with it on Shabbos, because it is [considered] its garment. If, however, it is not tied on, it may not go out with it, because it may fall off and you may carry it by hand. You may not tie the saddle on Shabbos because it requires coming close [to the animal] and leaning on it. However, when the donkey is in the yard it is permitted to place a pack-saddle on it to protect it from the cold, provided it is not let out. However, you may never place a pack-saddle on a horse unless there is extreme cold which may harm the horse. Likewise, during the summer when there are many flies which annoy it, you may place a pack-saddle on it, provided you take care not to lean on the animal while putting it on. Removing a pack-saddle on Shabbos, whether from a donkey or a horse, is forbidden, since it suffers no discomfort if it is not removed.

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§4

It [the animal] may not go out [wearing] a bell even if it is plugged and does not ring. Even in a city where an eiruv has been established, it is forbidden to let it go out with a bell. Only in the yard may it [the bell] be upon her. If it [the bell] is not plugged, and rings [as the animal moves], [then,] even in the yard it is forbidden to be on the animal.

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§5

You may lead a horse with the straps of the bridle, provided you hold the end of the straps so that a tefach does not protrude from your hand; also, so that the strap which is between your hand and the animal [does not reach] to within a tefach of the ground. If the strap is very long then, wrap it around the horse's neck.

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§6

When two or more animals are tied together and by holding one rein all are led, one following the other, it is forbidden to do this on Shabbos, even in a city where an einty has been established. But, you may hold a number of reins in your hand to lead them [the animals], if you do it the way it was explained in the previous paragraph.

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§7

Hens may not go out with strings that are tied to them for identification purposes, or to keep them from breaking things. 16 But, to tie their feet so that they cannot run away [is permitted]. Similarly when horses graze in the field, their forelegs are tied together, so that they cannot run away; this too is permitted, provided that you not fetter or hog-tie them. "Fettering" means tying the foreleg to the hind leg. "Hog-tying" means tying one of the hind legs upwards, so that [the animal] walks only on three legs, which is forbidden even on weekdays because it is forbidden to cause pain to animals.

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§8

If you have a non-Jewish servant who rides on the animal on Shabbos when he leads it to water, you need not deter him, because the prohibition against riding an animal on Shabbos is not due to the burden that it carries, because a living thing carries itself (and is forbidden only by a Rabbinic prohibition, which does not apply to the animal). The prohibition applies to the person [i.e. the rider], for a Jew is forbidden to ride an animal on Shabbos, but a non-Jew is not bound by it. And even if the non-Jew places a saddle or a blanket upon which he will ride, [nevertheless,] they are subordinated to the rider's') However, he may not put anything else on the animal.

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§9

You may tell a non-Jew to milk the cows on Shabbos, to avoid causing pain to the animals, because the milk causes them pain. [However,] that milk is forbidden even to be handled on that day. Instead, the non-Jew should place it in a safe place. Similarly, you may tell a non-Jew to force-feed the geese once a day to avoid causing pain to living creatures.

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§10

You may not lend or rent your animal to a non-Jew unless you stipulate that it be returned before Shabbos. If it happened that he did not return it, you must renounce your ownership of it before Shabbos even without letting anyone know, to save yourself from transgressing the law. But, initially, it is forbidden to lend or rent to him relying on this.

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§11

A person may not measure out barley to feed his animal, but should just estimate the amount needed.

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§12

A bundle of hay that was not tied with a "permanent knot" (i.e. double-knotted), may be untied and placed before an animal. You may cut up hard pumpkins near an animal, provided they were picked yesterday [before Shabbos]. If the pumpkins are soft and the animal can eat them as they are, it is forbidden to cut them up.

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§13

You may place your animal upon growing grass so that it may eat, because this does not constitute "work" for her; [the fact] that she will be uprooting grass, on the contrary, is a pleasure for her. However, it is forbidden to place an animal for grazing, [upon] grass that a non-Jest cut on Shabbos, which is muktzeh. However if it has nothing else to eat, then it is permitted" [in order] to [avoid] causing pain to animals. Similarly, if it has nothing to drink, you may tell a non-Jew to bring water for her, from a well [situated] in a karmelis.

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§14

You may not hang a bag or vessel on an animal from which it will eat, since it is only for the animal's comfort, so that it will not have to bend its neck, and you are forbidden to exert yourself on Shabbos [solely] for the comfort of the animal. However, since calves and colts have short necks and it is troublesome for them to eat off the ground, it is permitted to hang a feedbag on them in the yard. But they may not go out with it, because it is considered a burden.

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§15

You may not throw grain for the poultry in a damp place because it is possible that some will remain there and will sprout afterwards.

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§16

If you give feed to your animals it is forbidden to first put it into a sieve to remove the chaff and to cleanse it. But, if this is not your purpose, you may take it with a sieve and put it into the trough.

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§17

If you give bran to your animals or your poultry, it is forbidden to put water into it. If you put water in on Friday it is forbidden to knead it on Shabbos, but you may pour it from one vessel into another in order to mix it.

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§18

Animals [such as cattle,] beasts, and poultry that are raised in the house and whose feeding is your responsibility, may be fed on Shabbos. But, it is forbidden to trouble yourself in order to feed those not raised in the house and whose feeding is not your responsibility. Even [just] to throw feed before them is forbidden. Therefore, it is forbidden to place food before doves because they can fly out and get their food in the fields. You may place food before a dog. Even if it has no owner, there is somewhat of a mitzvah to give it some food, because the Holy One, blessed is He, showed it compassion; for, because of the scarcity of its food, He caused its food to remain undigested in its intestines for three days. Some are accustomed to place wheat before the birds on Shabbos Shirah, but this is not proper, because it is not our responsibility to feed them.

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§19

You may invite a non-Jew to your house to dine with you on Shabbos. Although this is prohibited on Yom Tov because of the concern that you may prepare extra food for him, (as is explained in Chapter 98); however, on Shabbos, this is of no concern and you may even serve him alone. Although you are not responsible for feeding him, nevertheless, since we are told to feed the non-Jew in order to maintain good will, it is considered as if you are responsible to feed him (see above Chapter 82, paragraph 9).

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§20

Animals, beasts and fowl that are not yet trained to return to their cages in the evening, or even if they are trained to do so but at the moment, they have escaped, it is forbidden to drive them [back] into the cages or into the house. Even if they are in the house or inside the cage, but the door is open, it is forbidden to close it, because, as a result they are being caught, which is a violation of the prohibition of "trapping."

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§21

If they are already trained and domesticated and usually return home in the evening but they went out, and you are worried lest they be stolen, you are permitted to drive them to a safe place, but you may not carry them by hand because they are muktzeh.

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§22

You must not deliver an animal of its offspring on Shabbos. Even to assist it, that is, holding the newborn so that it should not fall to the ground, is forbidden.

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§23

You may apply oil on a fresh wound which is causing the animal pain, but it is forbidden to apply oil on a wound that is healing and is only done for the animal's comfort.

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§24

If it [i.e. the animal] ate [too] much vetch or the like and is [now] suffering, you may cause it to trot in the yard in order to exhaust it so that it should recuperate. If it (i.e. the animal) has become hyperemic [suffering from an increase in the blood], you may make it stand in water so that it will cool off. If there is a possibility that if it is not bled, it [may] die, [then] you may tell a non-Jew to bleed it. Other remedies should also be administered through a non-Jew.