Daf Yomi - Rosh Hashana - DOG DRINKING WINE

The Gemora offered proof that Daryavesh morally deteriorated later on in life from a verse which states that he had a female dog which he would sodomize. This dog was as beloved to him as a queen. This is based on the word ‘sheigel’ meaning a female dog.

The Gemora asks from the next verse which seems to state that Daryavesh’s ‘sheigel’ drank wine. If ‘sheigel’ means a female dog, is a dog able to drink wine? The Gemora answered that he can train a dog to drink wine.

There was once an incident where a dog entered a wine cellar and drank some wine from an opened barrel. There were those that held that the dog owner should be liable to pay since this should be included in the animal damages listed in the Mishna in Bava Kamma, where the owner is responsible.

Rav Tzvi Pesach Frank ruled that the dog owner is exempt from paying. His ruling was based on our Gemora that states that it’s abnormal for a dog to drink wine. The payment incurred from an unusual case is considered a penalty and Beis Din does not issue rulings on penalties since the destruction of the Beis Hamikdosh.