Can you tell me if it’s a sin for breeding dogs to sell? I have a friend who does this and wears her dogs out. I just feel inside myself that it’s cruel. Is there an answer for this?
There are many types of beasts that we can consider. The wild beast is one that is not tamed and cannot be tamed. The working beast is an ox, bull, mule…animals that we use to help work on our farms and fields. The tamed beast is a pet that is considered a part of the family, such as a cat, dog, horse, etc. Then, there are animals that we get milk from, like cows, goats, etc. There are animals that we eat like chickens, pigs, cattle, etc.
In the beginning, the Lord gave man fruits, herbs, and vegetables to eat. Genesis 1:29, “And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.”
After the flood, when Noah and his family had left the ark, the Lord then told man they could eat animals. Genesis 9:3, “Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.”
So, we see there are many kinds of animals (beasts) that are used for different purposes. However, the Lord does expect us to treat our animals with care. Proverbs 12:10 tells us, “The righteous care for the needs of their animals, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.” (NIV). Whether they are pets, work animals, or animals to be eaten, they are to be treated with care while in our custody. We should never misuse our animals. Let us look at a few verses that teach that we should care for our animals.
- Deuteronomy 25:4, “Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn.”
- Deuteronomy 22:10, “Thou shalt not plow with an ox and an ass together.”
- Proverbs 27:23, “Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds.”
- Isaiah 40:11, “He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.”
Along with these verses, there are others to show how the Lord expects us to treat our animals kindly and with care. Is it cruel to breed dogs in order to sell them? I cannot see anything wrong with this. We are to have dominion over our animals (Genesis 1:26), so to care for our dogs and breed them as a way of making a living is not harsh. You mentioned in your question about wearing the dogs out. I assume by this you mean that the dogs are being bred too often and for too long. That would be cruel. I did a little research and found that the AKC has some very important instructions and guidelines about how to safely breed the female dog. In my estimation, if a person followed the AKC guidelines for breeding their animals, the breeding would be done safely and would not harm the animals.
I encourage you to pray about speaking with your friends about how they breed their dogs. Perhaps they are treating their dogs with concern and compassion. Perhaps they are, indeed, hurting their dogs by breeding them inappropriately. By speaking with them, you may be relieved to find they are treating their dogs with respect. By speaking with them, you may find out that they are mistreating their dogs. If so, you may be able to help them understand how they should treat their dogs with care. If their treatment is severe and they refuse to correct their ways, you may be forced to notify the authorities. (CC) (550.4)