1. We learned yesterday that many domesticated pets are not subject to the rules of trapping on Shabbat, and one may place them in a confined space when needed. In contrast, a newly acquired pet who tries to escape and would not return if not caught would be subject to the Torah prohibition of trapping, if one is forced to trap or catch it to bring it back. As mentioned previously, a pet that escapes but would return home on its own at night is subject to the rabbinic prohibition of trapping if one traps it and brings it home (“The 39 Melochos,” p.864).

2. Aside from any issues of trapping, contemporary poskim disagree as to whether a pet is subject to the prohibition of muktzeh that normally applies to other animals. We will discuss this issue at a later date within the halachot of muktzeh, but it should be noted here that according to the stringent opinion, any confinement of pets by pushing or touching them directly may be forbidden, even when trapping is permitted.

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Dedicated by Fran Broder as a zechus for everlasting peace in Eretz Yisrael in the merit of learning Hilchos Shabbos.