Chapter 27
Laws Relating to Animals on Shabbath and Yom Tov
CATCHING ANIMALS
43.a. The prohibition laid down by the Torah against catching an animal on Shabbath or Yom Tov may be applicable even if the animal is sleeping, since it generally tries to escape as soon as it feels it is being caught.
43.b. On the other hand, if one catches an animal which is ill, old or very young and which cannot move away or walks only slowly and with difficulty, one infringes only a Rabbinical prohibition.
44.a. One must not completely close a box in which one knows there are flies, because they will be trapped inside.
44.b. If one drives off those flies one can see, one may close the box and is not obliged to examine it to make sure there are no more left inside.
44.c. If one is in doubt whether or not there are flies inside a box, one may close it without examining it, provided one has no intention of catching flies by doing so.
