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Can Nuns Have Pets?
Over the weekend we had great contributions to the post You may be a nun if …. An important question came up about being a Catholic sister or nun and having pets.
Not being able to have a dog is actually the one part of religious life I believe I will never get used to. I dreamed one night that I started sleeping with stuffed animals in my nun life since I am so used to having a dog pushing me around in bed at night…
For animal lovers, the pet thing can be a real bummer. Many of us grew up with these little (and not so little) critters as part of our family. However, when you enter religious life, you really do have to be absolutely free which includes not having any dependents. We have women who are unmarried/formerly married moms who enter the community but only after their children are no longer dependent. Same reasoning applies in a way to having pets which are absolutely dependent on us (except for cats who think they are beholden to no one 
).
But fear not, animals do have a way of scurrying back into our lives, but we must always put our community first, and we must make decisions around pets with them. Many people have allergies to animals or just plain don’t want to live with an animal.
More thoughts or questions about animals and the sisterhood?
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{ 31 comments }
I am a dog lover. And I have a dog. I will always have a dog, God willing. One sister I know, a monastic, adores dogs too. Although they do not have a dog at the monastery, she was considering trying to negotiate getting one. She thought that the dog could be outside and limited to a few areas inside. This way, those who like dogs could have one and those who do not, can easily avoid the dog. I must say though, dogs, and probably cats too, are very therapeutic. This could be especially positive for infirm sisters. I don’t think it’s a bad idea for most larger residences, i.e., monasteries, motherhouses, to have a few pets. It might get more complicated for sisters who live with a few others or by themselves completely. If they have to move, what happens to the pet? For many folks, pets are like part of the family, part of the community. You can’t just give them up! Just my two cents. dee
As I write, this my dog is stretched out next to me, pushing against the arms of the couch as he tries to head-butt my laptop out of *his* spot:
my lap. Sister Julie, I appreciate your straight-up answer about this. Religious life is about primary attachment and obligation to God and community.
Dogs are dependents. My friends and family said my 14 year old who died two years ago was actually my “s.o.” – my significant other. This very young boy next to me is the last “fur person” (ala May Sarton) I can let myself consider mine if I enter religious life; I get too attached to their very particular selves.
Since writing that post you quoted, I have been thinking about ways to keep dogs in my life if I do enter religious life: playing “rehab therapist” to rescue dogs who are in foster homes, etc., since I have a knack with traumatized dogs. That would give me a consistent and intense dog relationship within a structure that would remind me that it is a short-term relationship because they would depart for new families, and it would guarantee me a constant supply of doggy friends.
I can’t believe it. I might go from being a “crazy dog person” to being one of those little ladies in the nursing home who have baby dolls, except mine will be an enormous stuffed dog and I will want everyone to scratch his ears!
A hermit I know has a cat – actually, his cat lives with the neighbours and the neighbour’s cat lives with him. She’s called “little sister”
It’s probably different when you’re enclosed. His biggest problem is training her not to hide under the altar!
I have had cats for as long as I can remember, and I’ll really miss having one around. Fortunately my dad’s cat is an anti-social maniac and nothing like the cuddly fur ball I used to have when I was little, so I’m slowly easing into no cat at all
Sometimes I feel like “sacrifice” and “suffering” are dirty words in modern conversations about religious life and even individual Catholic life (except when we speak of social justice) but I don’t know how one can truly anticipate and live poverty, chastity and humility without passing through, again and again and again, sacrifice and suffering on the way to joy and freedom. For me, this issue of dogs is a constant reminder of the reality that at the heart of Catholic faith (as distinguished from other Christian faiths) is the creative nature and force of sacrifice and suffering; that following Jesus requires a constantly renewed familiarity with those experiences so that we are practiced in choosing God and the Other when we arrive that moment or circumstance when that choice would cost us most and when we are, thus, most likely to fail and choose ourselves and our desires.
I joke about stuffed animals but, in more serious moments, I recognize this: it is through anticipating living without a dog for the rest of my life that I have truly come to understand what it means to “fast” and why that practice has come to seem so very particularly Catholic in nature to me.
I would miss my animals dearly but at the same time, I would want to have the freedom to go where I am needed. I have cherished the animals I have but they take a lot of time and tending. I also know that I am maybe not home as much as I should be with them when I am working full time.
Sr.Julie,
for some time now, I have thought about religious life. no matter how much I try to turn away from it, it only gets stronger. I just converted to the Catholic faith at the Easter vigil. This was another reason I decided to join the Catholic Church. I know, I am going to have to wait for 2 to 3 years before discerning with a community. It is hard because I want to give myself now. When I try avoiding anything to do with a religious vocation, it comes up out of my control. Last week, I did not want to have anything to do with it and my baptist family that came to visit, would not stop bringing it up,although they wish it were not on my mind.As I walked into mass this morning, I could since something was going to be different. from the moment the priest started talking my heart began to ache. Then it came down to the homily. It hit me hard. It was about slowing down and letting God reveal what he wants you to do. He will show you where he wants you to go. He will give you peace. As the Eucharist was getting concentrated I could not stop crying. I am just now realizing how hard it is to be vulnerable to Christ and saying OK, this must be your will for the day and continue to trust in him. Maybe, a little piece of me is scared that God is going to call me to be cloistered. I knew, I should not have watched the Dominican Nuns of Summit, New Jersey video. I have no idea how i found that video either. I haven’t been able to sleep either. I did say, I was not going to think about religious life today, but it did not last long. Thank you for having this blog.
God Bless,
Sarah
Closetted Benedictine that I am, i can understand why individual religious wouldn’t have pets. That having been said, I think it’s pretty cool when communities have pets.
I have a service dog by the name of Johnny. He alerts me to important sounds or someone calling me from a distance. He is also trained to help me when my balance is off. He wears a special harness for me to hang on to.
There is some controversy regarding my choice. But I absolutely need to remain independent and have what I need to function.
Wow! Sr Liza. What controversy could there be re: a service dog?
I can see some difficulty re: allergies but I hope it is not that “some people just don’t like dogs”. My response to that would be “some people just don’t like being incapacitated when there are adaptations available”.
Oh my. I’ll hush and ask more neutrally: “What is the controversy”?
Um, Sr. Julie, don’t you have a cat? So maybe you can have a pet if you live alone? It’s about time you put up a picture of Chloe! So fluffy!
Hi Annie, living alone would seem to mean you can decide if you want a pet or not, but it’s not that easy. You have to take account of your community (hospitality is a big thing), finances, and remaining “free” to attend community events and mission needs. Living alone isn’t the norm in religious communities, though we do have to make that choice due to various circumstances and ministerial need. So it’s always possible that living circumstances can change and you have to make difficult choices to be faithful to your community life and to be responsible toward the pet you took in.
Chloe came along at a time when I wasn’t necessarily looking for a pet but she was an older cat and in need of a quiet home without any other animals. I checked it out with my superior and with some of my local nuns, some of whom are allergic to cats.
I have visited four religious orders, and three of them (two cloistered orders, one active/contemplative) had cats and/or dogs. I don’t know if any of them were brought in with new postulants or “donated,” but there you have it.
I am resigned to the fact that I’ll likely have to find a new home for my cat if and/or when the time comes. It won’t be easy, but I agree with Jean on this – sacrifice is part of showing our love for Christ. I just hope to God I can find my kitty a home because I don’t know if I could just bring her to the SPCA. Cats usually don’t last long before they’re euthanized.
In my local house we have a dog who was there before I came. We are not supposed to have pets, but he was rather relunctantly allowed to stay. I would love to have a cat, but since we religious tend to move often, that complicates things. Before I entered community, I left my cat with my parents who, thank God, were willing to keep her. It was the hardest part of leaving. She died this past summer and I was crushed. Animals can bring such joy, and as a Franciscan community, one would think that, as a whole, we would be more agreeable toward them. However, I found myself at a meal conversation in which several sisters did hold back on their negative feelings on pets, they shed, they walk on counters, they jump, bark, litterbox smell, etc. I was once told sisters would not visit our house since we have a dog. However, I thought we were quite clear that we would take the dog to a friend’s if he was not welcome. It is such a complicated balance of putting Sisters first in spite of love for the pet who does have needs too. Then too is the cost factor. Many sisters came from farms and animals, including cat and dogs, were all kept outside and the idea of a house pet makes no sense to them. Those sisters and others who seem to have no affinity for animals at all are on one side with those who have had pets and loved them as members of the family on the other. It’s a polarity with no solution.
Wow. I could not handle that. Even if I were Catholic and wanted to join the convent, I don’t think I could leave my cat after 9 years. Not for good.
I found myself at a meal conversation in which several sisters did hold back on their negative feelings on pets, they shed, they walk on counters, they jump, bark, litterbox smell, etc
But they’re fluffy!!! LOL Life is messy, those are lame excuses.
I’m glad this post was put up, because I live in a city where it sometimes seems like dogs are more beloved than children and so I always tend to have a really negative take on the subject. Sitting and listening (or rather reading, lol) to all of your comments on the matter, however, has REALLY cleared things up for me. I never really understood the whole pet thing–obviously I’ve never had a pet, just a little sister, lol!–so it’s always been hard for me to understand the relationship. I think I get what you’re saying, though.
Personally, I wouldn’t mind if my community had a pet…I would be just as happy without one, but I wouldn’t go spouting anti-pet hatred everywhere or anything!! I’m not the type to say/think “oh, what a cute dog” when I see one on the street, but I’m also not the type to say/think “oh what a big waste of space and annoying THING” either. (I know many annoying pet owners, but also many loving ones. I know many annoying pet-dislikers, but also many kind pet-dislikers.) I see all sides of the issue and I honestly am indifferent. My family has bad allergies to basically every type of dander or typical domesticated animal (cats, dogs, guinea pigs, you name it) so I would definitely understand allergic sisters’ objections if they constantly had to be in contact with animals. It’s not just a hospitality thing, or even a health thing–shots are EXPENSIVE if you have to get them on a regular basis.
Pretty long comment there. Whoa. Jean/Nathalie, off my keyboard!
woops. SOMEONE can’t use HTML correctly. Sorry for the random italics…
I understand why individual, apostolic sisters often can’t have pets – mainly, it seems, because they move fairly often because of change in ministry, etc. And I guess they never know what their next space will be like – or the people in it. It’s clearly a practical concern. And then I suppose there is that “attachment” issue. But animals are God’s creatures and we are called to be stewards of the earth. That doesn’t mean that everyone should or could have a pet, but the extreme negativity really seems like a very unloving response. What a lovely ministry it would be for sisters to train dogs for the blind! Jean??? dee
Despite my allergies, I love dogs…cats, not so much (VERY allergic to those critters). Having said that, I have had an experience where having a dog in the house (a community of
was NOT a good one. Not to say it is never a good idea, but in this case, there were some unhealthy dynamics before the dog arrived, and suffice it to say that things deteriorated from there… I’d be very hesitant to try that again…
hey…I didn’t intend for that emoticon to be there..it was a community of 8!
Julie, your explanation about why most religious don’t have pets is very clear. But I just want to add to the conversation that I know quite a few religious who DO have dogs (as well as cats). So it might be helpful to those who think not being able to have a pet would be an obstacle to know that there are communities and contexts where it is possible.
Blessings,
Lisa
I found this photo of one of the sisters at the Monastery of the Visitation in Georgetown, with a dog named Nick that belongs to all of them. Visi is also a preparatory high school for girls.
http://livejesus.blogspot.com/2009/05/time-to-pick-time-to-prune.html
I think my kitty is an angel from heaven! Honestly, she is the sweetest, most well balanced kitty I have ever met. I am not in a position to enter religious life, but it would be very hard for me to live without a kitty. And I’m allergic! So I get shots once a month, and that is fine with me. I wouldn’t have it any other way
i get it, but not having a dog would mean no convent for me. of course, that’s not my vocation; i am safe!
Just thought for those of you who think they might want a pet–depending on the views of your community, you could perhaps consider becoming a trainer for a service dog such as Sr. Liza’s. There is always a need for willing hearts to do this sort of work and the limited nature of the commitment would prevent over-attachment. And the service to those with real need would seem to me to fit into the calling to religious life. Of course, one could not do this without the consent and participation of one’s community, but it might be worth exploring for some of you.
Just a thought!
Susan and deerose – I have thought of projects such as the ones you suggest. there are also always rescue groups who need help walking and socializing their dogs. I can’t deal with shelters unless they are
no-kill shelters. I am a social worker who can deal with – have dealth with – the grizzliest of human situations, but a lost dog with no hope of another family is altogether more than I can handle. All I can see is one of my dogs, most especially my 14 year old, in the cage and I feel like my heart is going to bust in two. But helping a dog on his way to a new life, now, that I could do.
I like cats but they are definitely not people and I am not at all prepared to make that determination about any of the dogs **I** know. And the one in my lap appreciates that.
Jean
All the rescue shelters I know of seek foster “parents” for dogs and kittehs until such time as they are adopted. Some dogs and cats need some socializing or special care for a limited period of time. This is a way for people, not just nuns, to interact and help animals without a long-term commitment.
Apologies to the cats and their people who are readers here. what makes a “fur person” is in the eye of the beholder, and three friends with 18-20 year old catpeople have just verbally slapped me around for my dogcentrism. (i do think this is one area in which bigotry may be inbred). jean
I have a question regarding something posted in the blog. If a prospective sister is required to be completely “free” does that mean she gives up all contact with her family. For example you spoke of a woman entering the life after her children were grown. Would she still be able to contact and speak to them, or would she be required to cut them out in favor of her new life?
I think nuns are allowed to have pets. I had seen Discalced Carmelites have a pet in their monastery. It was a Golden Retriever. He serves as a companion and guard.
Hi Laurel, In most cases, a woman who becomes a nun can still relate with her children. Only exception might be if she entered an enclosed community that restricted visits with anyone outside the convent. For more on family see my post Can nuns spend time with family?
I inherited a sweet cat. It was dropped off on our convent property and I was asked to take care of him, maybe see if the cat could help with a mole issue we were having in the garden. Well, when my parents became ill, I brought him home with me and he ministered to my father until he died. After I sold my parents home, the Sisters allowed me to bring “Toonces”, my sweet tiger cat back to the convent.
Yes, he was to live in a designated area, and in the summer he spent all day long
in the gardens, keeping them clean of all the critters who could spoil our veggies and flowers.
Toonces brought so much love into my life and the lives of several sisters. It was important that I kept him out of areas where sisters were with allergies etc. and I had to be really careful about that. There were times I had some trouble, but overwhelmingly the joy he brought to so many of us outweighed the negative.
I especially loved the way Toonces allowed sisters who are will or fragile to pet him or hold him on their lap. He generally, didn’t care for that, but he knew when a sister needed him for a little therapy.
Toonces passed away July 20, 2009. It was so hard for me and at least one other sister cried for weeks. Now, we are rescuing pets that end up on our farm property and fostering them until they are ready to go to the shelter in Geauga County, Geauga Humane Society, Rescue Village.
In meanwhile, there is a “no – pet” policy that our council established. I think it’s senseless. Cats and dogs are part of God’s creation. They were created to teach us how to love unconditionally. Sacrificing them doesn’t seem like a normal thing to do. They help to calm us in this stressful world we live in, and they help lower our blood pressure. They bring out gentleness in a world that is anything but kind and gentle.