Can a Pet be "Family"?

I am married and have a very few friends. I try to be a mensch to others 99% of the time. But, because of my growing up. Beaten, threatened and living in fear (by my Jewish father) I only trust my wife, and a very good friend and my old cat. When she died, so did I to a extent. I now have a wonderful new cat (that I feel G-d) has placed in my life. This cat has also bonded with me. G-d I believe know the pain I was in losing my old baby and placed this cat in my life. I would not be here today with out my cats. My wife and I now have group homes with special needs individuals. It is nice with my staffs, my wife and G-ds help, we all love them and making a real difference in there lives.

Now my wife’s daughter and grandkids are coming from a violent, Corrupt country. And they already look at me as grandpa. I tell them I love them and can not wait to hug them and spoil them (in a good way). This is what G-d has given me. Thank you G-d. Reply

Dear Rabbi,
Your last line of your article made my day. Your dog has found a wonderful human being, and you will, too.
May you live to 120, and may you be blessed in all you do.
Shavua Tov v’Chaim Tovim,
Neil Reply

I am single, so my cat is very precious to me. I still have a lot of interaction with humans and it has not stunted my spiritual growth in any way. There again, everything is about balance. I have enough love to go around humans and pets. Enough respect for humans and for animals. Animals can teach us so much and through them we can understand the power of true and unconditional love. Animals do not discriminate. Reply

Our Pets, part 2 of 2

While I do agree that human contact and relationships are necessary for us humans to grow, human relationships can also be toxic. I do not agree that you will never have cause to challenge yourself, improve your ways or apologize. If you are a person that has feelings, you will find times you have to challenge yourself to do better by your pet. You will find times you will have to improve your ways with your pets, times when you find yourself too busy, you carve a chunk of your time out of the time you spend with them. Regardless of popular opinion our animals have emotional needs as well. Reply

Our Pets, part 1 of 2

I clicked on the link to this article, not realizing that it had been published a long time ago, from looking at the dates on the comments. And while I agree that human relationships are much more challenging and may require us to grow and work on improving ourselves, in this age of COVID-19 I believe this article needs to be updated.
I am an older person that still works, but during lockdown while I was working form home, it was my 2 small rescue dogs and cat are what kept me sane during months of no direct human contact.
We were bonded prior to the lockdown, but the bond grew increasingly stronger during lockdown.
Did I stagnate? Absolutely not. I became increasingly more inventive in attempts to keep myself and my animals entertained when we only had each other to rely on, and find ways to interact with my family.. Reply

my angels I have borderline disorder and social anxiety disorder. Both make human relationships all but intolerable.
While I recognize that I am the one with the problem, I must point out that people are cruel. I can't tell you how many times people have made comments about me belonging in a " nuthouse".
My cats are at times the only ones I can count on to love me no matter how angry I get. They always accept my apology and make me want to be a better person. I wish I could say that for the humans I know. Reply

Yahrzeit for a Pet? Is there anything "un-kosher" about lighting a yahrzeit in memory of a beloved pet? Reply

re: 17th tammuz yes All died for different reasons, and is the same vet who took care of all animals. still he did not found a pattern. :S I just wondered maybe an spiritual reason is causing this. Reply

re 17th Tammuz... I am sorry read of your losses and such painful timing. Have you consulted your vet about their deaths? Since a pattern is emerging... your vet would be able to help you sort out the clues to determine what is going on. Reply

17th tammuz (2011) Believe or not today my cat and dog are dead, 2 years ago in the 9 of Av my chihuahua died, I trully believe this is a nightmare I went to the dog house and there he was a cute german shepard pup of 9 months dead. I wonder why?? why, my pets die every 2 or one year apart always in 9 of Av or like today on the 17th Tammuz.

I am so sad. Reply

pet I am very touched by articles and responses. We also just lost our dear pet. I felt lot of love from him, and even people who were guests at our home told us that we have a very special dog. He gives us so many of wonderful memories. It is my opportunity to say now that a blessing can come in many forms, and one of a wonderful dog Bobby that we had. May his soul rest in peace. Reply

Love of Pets My beloved older chihuahua, who had completely devoted herself to me during my brain bleed recovery, went missing from inside our home - we think she was stolen from us. I was broken and devastated as she was such a dear part of my heart and new daily life, as she loved me unconditionally, despite my new handicaps. I began studying Torah for understanding, and was led to Creation verses as I was sitting in my yard. To my amazement, tiny, perfect baby rabbits began rolling out of the fields! G-d our Creator was at work! He also had another surprise for my brokenness. A few months later I was blessed with 3 puppies I delivered myself. The third pup was an EXACT replica of my beloved Lena, a tiny black and tan miracle. When I opened the birth sack, I was incredulous to see this tiny perfect replica, sent to me by my Loving Creator! I named them Phoebe, Jude and the miracle one is named Heavensent Tippytoes! Praise Be to our Father in Heaven who hears our cries and heals our broken hearts. Reply

pets are family too I agree that pets are not on the same level as humans, and would have given up my cat to save even a stranger halfway across the world. But for the first time, i read something on this web site that made me question the humanity, yes, humanity, of Torah perspective. How could you say that pets don't change or challenge us, unless you never had one?
Our cat died in my son's arms last night. She was our angel for 15 years, and although I have mourned for loved ones (people) before, this pain is just as real. She took my children's tears when they had no one else to trust, when even I could not comfort them. Please don't dismiss this very real relationship so swiftly. She came to us as a skeptical street cat, and became pure love covered in fur. Two feet or four paws, loved ones are loved ones. We lit a Yahrzeit candle for her, and honestly, I don't care whether that violated some kind of "law." She was family. Reply

Our pets Yes, it is G-d that gets us through the tough times. I believe that pets, I have two small dogs, are actually angels. The age of miracles in fact has not passed if only we would see as G-d wants us to see. Our pets are ether gifts from G-d (his Schechinah [presence] meant to literally brighten our lives) or are his angels (manifestations of G-d that offer us unconditional love consistent with His covenant with us). Reply

I'm deeply in love with my cat I think that pets are sometimes a lot better than humans. Now that I've accepted the fact that I want to share my life with my cat I'm a lot happier and I think that I can still improve beacaus at least whenever I want to change something about myself I don't have someone trying to hold me back. My cat is always here for me, helping me out when I feel down or when I'm discouraged. I don't think I've chosen this kind of relationship because it's easier. In fact living with an animal is not all the time that easy, it can be quite hard when you want to go in holidays or when you want to move abroad. My cat is destroying everything in my house and he already broke me two computers but that's only materials things and my love for him is really deep and every day, even when he is beaing really a nuisance I'm really happy to have him by my side Reply

Speak from Experience or Don't Speak This perspective on animals is very old, urban and misguided and it certainly makes it easier for us to eat them on occiassion. Animals are NOT so static & accepting & incapable of growth and change. If anything, really knowing animals and entwining them in our lives helps us learn how universal some of our lessons are, that God's world is not all about us. I learned the most from a cat who was abused by previous owners and learned to love again. The healing process is fundamental and required careful adjustments in my treatment of her over several years. Through birthing her kittens, loosing one and teaching the others their cat life-skills, I learned how deeply universal motherhood is. When my own child arrived, I neglected my relationship with her and she withdrew from me also. Her resulting stress-borne illness woke me up to the fact that I had let my life become unbalanced. Returning to daily reflective and quality time with all my loved ones was good me and for my whole family. Reply

Relationships with our animals Last December, while I was waiting for spinal fusion surgery & unable to take care of myself, my wife came home early from work & told me she was leaving me. She was gone within an hour or so after lighting the Shabbas candles. I was totally lost & on major pain meds. She didn't bother to tell anyone so no one knew to check in on me until I was finally able to call people 4 days later.
The only thing that helped me get out of bed those first few days was my little dog & how he would lay on the bed near me and crawl up to me. I don't know if I would have made it past those few days without him. He has since become my "service animal" and, although he doesn't need to be with me when I leave the house, he follows me where ever I go when home & can definately can sense when I am not doing well (physically and/or emotionally).
I had adopted him from a mid-wife over a year before and I feel that Hashem made sure he was/is in my life to help me get through the rough times. Reply

Sometimes Pets ARE Better Than Spouses This is a "timeless" question. Cats and dogs have a special brand of loyalty we ALL wish humans had!

I'm a dog person myself, and I have to say that as a child, my dog gave me more joy than most people - and one of my aunts went through the same thing with HER dogs!

Animals have stronger senses than humans. Sometimes, pets can help their owners find spouses with their special senses, while protecting them from people who could hurt them. Did you talk to your dog about this? Did your dog try to help you find someone? Anything is possible.

I consider dogs family, and any man who wants to marry you has to love dogs as much as you do. Good Luck! Reply

DOGS It was a dark and coudy night. The wind was howling. Inside my puppy's crate there was a dim glow. A small voice was reciting his ABC's. Everywhere there was singing and dancing! HORRAY FOR PUPPIES!!! Reply

David & the poor man's lamb 2 Samuel 12:

...But the poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb which he had bought and brought up, and it grew up with him and his children. It ate of his own morsel, drank from his own cup, lay in his bosom, and was like a daughter to him. Now a traveler came to the rich man...he took the poor man's lamb and prepared it for his guest. Then David's anger was greatly kindled against the man, and he said to Nathan, As the Lord lives, the man who has done this is a son [worthy] of death... Reply