Question
Hi i live in a town where there are lots of pet dogs. I like to walk and recite mishnayot while walking but everytime i walk every 50metres or so there is dog excrement on the pavement that the owners havent bothered to clean. Can i continue reciting mishnayot knowing that i will inevitably see this as i am walking?
Answer
ב"ה
Shalom
According to the Shulchan Aruch, if there is no smell coming from the dog excrement, then you may go on learning and you don't even need to walk away from them 4 Amot.
(שולחן ערוך אורח חיים הלכות קריאת שמע סימן עט סעיף ד)
Nonetheless, this does not exempt dog owners from being more considerate of others who share the sidewalk.
Shabbat Shalom and Happy Chanuka.
