God’s compassion extends to every living creature, caring for all their needs. As we strive to emulate our Creator, we have a responsibility to demonstrate concern for animals, to take care of their needs and to alleviate their suffering.

For Jews, there are many halachic issues involved in pet care. For some animals, providing food and paraphernalia can get expensive, as well. The Talmud stresses that before you acquire an animal, you must be certain that you can properly care for it. As King Solomon said: “A righteous person considers the life of his animal.“

The Torah requires that people feed their animals before feeding themselves. This instills in us the sensitivity for the needs of other living creatures. The requirement applies to all animals, birds and fish that rely on people for their food. According to some authorities, it is even forbidden to take a light snack before feeding one’s animals…