In Jainism, the main issue is not “pets” as a word, but ahimsā (non‑violence) and bandhan (keeping a being in bondage).

Basic points:

1. No direct scriptural order like “you must not have pets” for householders, but

traditional Jain practice generally discourages keeping pets, especially for serious Jains.

1. Main reasons:

- Captivity / loss of freedom – tying, caging, controlling another living being is a form of himsā. - Diet of the animal – dogs, cats, etc. usually need meat; arranging meat is direct, repeated violence. - Bandhan-doṣa – binding, chaining, controlling movement is counted as a transgression of ahimsā. - Using animals for our emotional comfort (company, play, security, status) goes against the Jain ideal of letting beings live in their own natural way.

1. Monks and nuns

- For sādhus/sādhvīs, keeping pets is completely against conduct: they cannot keep or “own” animals.

1. When is it more acceptable?

- Looking after injured / abandoned animals in a spirit of seva (compassion), not “enjoyment”: - treating them, - giving them food (ideally non‑violent / vegetarian if vet agrees), - not exploiting them (no breeding, no trade, no shows). - Many Jains support panjrapol / animal shelters where animals are cared for without being treated as toys or property.

1. Practical guidance for a Jain householder:

- Best: avoid keeping conventional pets, especially meat‑eating ones. - If you already have a pet: - Do not abandon it; care for it with compassion. - Minimize himsā as much as you realistically can (diet, no hitting, no harsh tying, proper care). - If you feel love for animals: - Feed strays without “claiming” them as property. - Support or volunteer at animal shelters instead of bringing animals home for entertainment.

Summary: Jain dharma does not have a formal “pet ban” line in scriptures for laypeople, but the spirit of ahimsā, non‑bondage, and respect for each soul means that serious Jains generally avoid keeping pets, and prefer helping animals through compassionate care and shelters rather than ownership.

You can read a related explanation here