Chapter 27
Laws Relating to Animals on Shabbath and Yom Tov
CATCHING ANIMALS
37.a. It follows from the above that one must take special care on entering or leaving a chicken coop or cattle shed containing birds or animals which one is not allowed to catch (as above).
37.b. If the situation is such that they have a possibility of escaping, one should avoid any act which traps them.
1) One can prevent such a situation from arising by filling the doorway with one’s body before opening the door.
2) In this manner, the birds or animals inside will remain trapped even after the door is opened.
3) Similarly, one should close the door behind one while one’s body still blocks the opening.
37.c. It is recommended that entrances to chicken coops and cattle sheds be constructed in such a way that one
1) must pass through two doors in succession and
2) can close the first before opening the second.
38.a. If the door of a cage containing birds opens, one should beware not to close it again, because the act of closing the door traps the birds.
38.b. There are grounds for relaxing this rule in the case of birds whose nature is to return to their cage after leaving it, provided one’s concern in closing the door is
1) to prevent the birds from causing damage if they leave their cage or
2) to prevent the birds from being stolen.
38.c. See also paragraph 42 below.
