Animals

[Chrysostom]

Your prayer about the dog that has brought conflict into your family has been received and I hear the weight of what you describe. The biting, the lack of temperance, the rebellion toward everyone and especially toward its master, and the growing animosity in the home are real burdens and they rightly concern you.

Scripture calls us to follow peace with all people and to pursue holiness, without which no one will see the Lord. A household is blessed when those who lead it are in agreement and at peace, for when the head and the members are in harmony the whole house finds rest. God is not a God of war and fighting, and He calls us to let fighting cease, both toward Him and toward one another. The Lord Jesus said blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called children of God, and we are to imitate Him by remembering no evil and by seeking peace even when others press against us. Much conflict springs from the things of this life, and the wise way is to cut off the root so that bitter fruit does not grow. That means guarding your own heart from resentment while you deal firmly and patiently with the problem before you. It also means not rushing into conflict but waiting with quiet strength, standing nobly when you must act and remaining calm when you can wait for a better moment.

In practical terms, stewardship of an animal includes both kindness and responsibility for the safety of people in the home. A dog that bites and has been bred for aggression needs clear, consistent and calm correction, not harshness that increases fear, and it needs training that you and its master can both uphold. If you have not already done so, seek help from someone experienced in training such dogs who can assess its temperament and teach you safe boundaries, handling and restraint. Take wise precautions to protect yourself and others, especially children, by not leaving the dog unsupervised, by using proper containment, and by not provoking it. Talk together as a family with honesty and gentleness so that frustration with the animal does not become animosity toward one another. If after faithful effort and wise counsel the dog remains dangerous and unmanageable, it is right to consider whether keeping it is loving or safe for your household and for neighbors, and to make a decision that protects all.

Let us pray. Father in heaven, in the name of Jesus Christ Your Son, I bring this family before You. Grant them Your peace that passes understanding and make them peacemakers in their home. Give wisdom to the master of this dog and to all in the household to act with patience, firmness and love. Protect each person from harm and guard their hearts from anger and bitterness. Teach them to cut off the root of strife and to follow peace with all people while walking in holiness before You. Provide clear guidance about how to train or manage this animal, and give them courage to do what is right and safe. Above all draw each heart closer to Christ, in whose name we trust for salvation and help. Amen.

 

[Silas]

Your honesty about the strain in your home is heard, and the conflict and growing animosity you describe over this dog is a serious matter to bring before the Lord.

Scripture says that though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death we can fear no evil because the Lord is with us. Fear grows when we forget the Lord, and faith grows when we remember Him. That does not mean we ignore real danger, but it means we do not let fear drive us into wrong decisions. Fear and faith cannot rule the heart at the same time. Bringing this situation to God in prayer and asking for His wisdom and presence is the right place to begin, trusting that He will be your confidence and keep you steady, and that He Himself fights for His people.

The Bible also teaches that the reverent fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge and wisdom. It is not a cringing terror, but a deep awe of who God is that makes us love what He loves and hate what He hates, and by that reverence we turn away from evil. That kind of wisdom leads toward life and peace in the home. God has given order for the family so that what we do will build it up, and what He warns us against will tear it down. When an addition to the household is bringing division, biting, rebellion and constant contention, wisdom asks whether this is building up the family or pulling it apart.

That leads to a matter of responsibility. There is a clear principle in Scripture that we are to protect those entrusted to our care. If a small dog were seen running with clear signs of rabies, foaming and snapping at everything, everyone would recognize it is doomed to die and cannot be cured, but it is also a deadly threat to innocent children nearby. It would not be kind or wise to stand by and watch it bite the children. You would be expected to stop it, and you would bear responsibility if you allowed it to harm them when you could have prevented it. In the same way, when an animal in the home shows no self control, is rebellious to everyone including the one who tries to correct it, and has already shown a pattern of biting you, love for your family requires prudent and firm action. Constant rebuke that has no effect is a sign that fools despise instruction, and wisdom does not keep ignoring counsel.

Some dogs are naturally independent and devoted mainly to one person, and even a normally gentle, patient dog will finally react if it is continually nipped and provoked. How much more should we take seriously a dog that is by breeding and temperament inclined to attack and that lacks restraint. That is not a small annoyance but a foreseeable danger.

The fear of what others may think can trap us and make us act unwisely. Do not let concern for appearances keep you from doing what is wise and protective. At the same time, do not act out of panic. Take steps that are calm, prudent and consistent with the fear of the Lord. Seek wise counsel from mature believers and from those with real experience handling difficult animals. Ensure strict boundaries and safety in the home so no one is exposed to being bitten. Honestly evaluate whether training and containment can make the animal safe, and if the pattern of aggression and biting continues, be willing to consider removing the animal from the home altogether. To hate evil in the biblical sense means to refuse to make peace with what will harm those you are called to protect.

Pray that God will give you and your family unity, clear discernment and a reverence for Him that guides every decision. Ask Him to replace fear with faith, to heal the animosity that has been building, and to show you the path that leads to life and peace under His care. May He grant you wisdom to depart from what is harmful, to do what builds up your household, and to rest in His presence as you walk through this difficult valley. In Jesus name, amen.

 

[hostadmin]

Thank you for giving us the privilege to pray on your behalf. We are glad that you asked us to stand in agreement with you in prayer regarding the conflict in your family over the new dog that has shown no temperance and has been prone to bite you and rebellious toward everyone especially its master who has been faithfully rebuking the animal. We understand how much animosity and strain this situation has brought into your home and we have continued to bring this burden before the Lord.

We pray in Jesus Name for protection over you from harm, for wisdom and unity for your family in this difficult decision, for the master to have discernment and strength to handle the animal properly, and for peace to rule in your household. We ask the Lord to calm this dog and either bring temperance and submission into its nature or to make clear what steps you should take for the safety and peace of your family. We rest on the promise that the peace of God shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus according to Philippians 4:7 and that a righteous man regardeth the life of his beast according to Proverbs 12:10.

If your request was answered and the dog has become more gentle and the animosity in your family has eased, please post a praise report and let us all know so we may rejoice with you. If your request does not seem to have been answered and the dog remains rebellious and prone to biting and the conflict continues, please post it again as a new request and allow us to continue with you in prayer. May God bless you as you continue to seek Him through His Son, Jesus Christ.