Buddy Breakfast

Day 95: Feed Your Animals Before Yourself

My fish died when I was in the 4th grade. Poor S.B.J. died before I left for shul on Shabbat. That was the only time [thankfully] I ever said kaddish. I loved my fish, I would watch him swim around, I decorated his cookie jar fish tank, I fed him...maybe too much...I really loved having a pet to take care of. Every morning, I'd greet my dad at the breakfast table and then go feed S.B.J. before sitting down to eat my own breakfast. Apparently I was doing it right.

An animal has urges, feelings, and emotions it can't express to humans. They hunger and thirst and need to relieve themselves. They accomplish all of this without speaking a language that humans can use to communicate. As horrible as it may sound, a baby is kind of like an animal. Of course developmentally and biologically we know this isn't true, but babies have no way of verbally expressing themselves to their parents. But no good parent would deprive their children of food, water or a diaper change.Why would we deny our pets any of these things? They too are living beings.