Kosher catering for Pesach pooches
PESACH is a time when we succumb to a staple diet of matzah and rid our homes of all chametz products, and our beloved pooches aren’t exempt from these laws.
PESACH is a time when we succumb to a staple diet of matzah and rid our homes of all chametz products, and our beloved pooches aren’t exempt from these laws.
Generally, even pets in Jewish homes are permitted to eat non-kosher food, with the Torah stating that non-kosher meat should literally be thrown to the dogs.
But on Pesach, Jewish law restricts us from not only owning chametz products, but also from benefitting from them, which includes feeding them to our furry friends.
But that doesn’t mean that they have to munch on matzah like the rest of us.
The Great Synagogue’s Rabbi Jeremy Lawrence, who this week produced a video explaining what our pets can and can’t be fed on Passover, said that animals are allowed to eat kitniyot, which includes rice, beans and legumes.
“The prohibition on consuming kitniyot, which doesn’t apply if you are a Sephardi Jew, doesn’t extend to ownership,” Rabbi Lawrence explained.
“So there is no problem having it in the house and feeding it to pets.”
While the diets of many dogs and other pets consisting of meat and vegetables will remain unchanged during Pesach, for those who consume dry or canned food, owners are instructed to find kosher for Pesach varieties.
“There are five prohibited grains – wheat, spelt, rye, oats and barley – so even if you check dog food labels for those products or their derivatives, you can’t be sure, so it’s best to find kosher for Pesach brands,” Rabbi Lawrence said.
He recommended brands that are listed on the Star-K Online website, such as certain varieties of Science Diet dry and canned dog food.
If all else fails you can also become your pet’s personal chef during Pesach by making them meat, chicken, vegetables, potatoes, rice, beans and legumes.
Star K’s kosher certification states that their listed brands of pet food are only certified as kosher for Pesach if they are produced in the United States, and those outside of the region cannot be assured as suitable for Pesach.
CASSILEE KAHN
Rabbi Jeremy Lawrence
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