Q. We own a small aquarium with fish and also a dog. It is difficult to change their diet and we think their regular food may contain chametz. Since we go away for Pesach, we leave our pets with a kind neighbor. We sell the chametz including the pet food. Do we have to sell the pets too? How?
A. Shulchan Aruch (O.H. 448: 7) rules that one may not give his animal to a Gentile to be fed by him chametz, since he will be deriving benefit from chametz during Pesach, via his animal being fed.
Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit’a opinion is that it is best to sell the pets with the food they require to the non Jewish neighbor. He will acquire the pets and the food when he lifts them or pulls them over.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit’a
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