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The Mishna had stated: And for a k’zayis (olive’s volume) from a corpse and for a k’zayis of netzel. The Gemora asks: What is netzel? The Gemora answers: The flesh of a corpse that has congealed, and liquid secretion from a corpse that bubbles when it is heated.
Abaye inquired of Rabbah: Is there a concept of netzel by an animal or not (will the decomposed flesh of an animal transmit tumah just like the carcass of an animal, known as neveilah)? Do we derive the halachah from a human corpse or not? The Gemora notes: This inquiry could be resolved according to the opinion who holds that a strict tumah (such as neveilah which can transmit tumah to people and utensils) transmits tumah until it is unfit to be eaten by a human; however, a lenient tumah (foods or liquids that are tamei, which can transmit tumah only to other foods and liquids) can still transmit tumah to other objects until it is unfit to be eaten by dogs (and since we are discussing neveilah, the netzel cannot be tamei for it is unfit for human consumption).
However, the inquiry remains according to the opinion who maintains that a strict tumah transmits tumah until it is unfit to be eaten by a dog (for a dog will still eat the netzel).
We explore the cultural valence dogs in the ancient world as well as in talmud.