Feeding Animals First

Who Eats First?

 

If a person owns animals, including pets such as birds or fish, the halachah is that one is required to feed them before eating themselves. However, one’s own children who are too young to serve themselves come before the animals, as well as guests, who also have priority over animals. During the regular animal-feeding times, the animals should be fed before the owner eats. With regards to drinking, however, the person himself has priority. There are poskim who are lenient and say that if one is not sitting down at the table to eat a meal, but is just having a snack, they are not required to feed the animals first.

#244?1

https://halacha2go.com?number=244

Practical Halacha: One minute a day. By Horav Yosef Yeshaya Braun, shlita, Mara D'asra and member of the Badatz of Crown Heights.