Peggy,
Your added info of personal information explains much of the dream. The stress is strong and reason for the dream although there are always other aspects related to your life involved. Are there any early life issues, very early life that could fit with the dream symbols? The dream statement, "not a special plane compartment because of washing machines' could point to such issues. My interpretation of this action, 'not a separate issue in life but standard learning from early life that needs a cleansing' would surely fit with the issues you have had with your son but could point to other issues from early life experiences. Your response of, "I probably believe on some level that I "should" be able to fix him" could be a clue. Why do you believe you should be able to fix him? The dream language at the end of the dream, "Alarmed by seeing the rat in the clothes, I go to find the "appropriate people" to report it" seems to point to personal attitudes. The rat in the clothes may point to personality since clothing is often symbolic of personal attitudes. Could your late husband fit within those parameters? Your response of, "my son's father died of an od in 1995 and this looms large for Dar and I and I think Daniel" may speak to this.
Personal attitudes related to stress could be one central theme of the dream.

Outside those possibilities I see how the dream images fit. I looked back at one other dream you posted and should have looked at others. That would likely had given me more info about your personal life which may have helped in interpreting how this dream fit with other posted dreams {most often it is only possible to read the perimeters of a dream, the outline of emotional energies but not actual personal experiences}. It seems clear now that the inclusion of 'Israel' in your dream was metaphor {on one level} for your daughter-in-law, her being a 'savior' of sorts. The language suggested possible 'spiritual' aspects and in this case she was in she helped you in your struggles with your son.

As for my cats. I have 16 or 17 I care for {8 domestic, the others feral}. All is well at this time. They are great friends at this time in my life. Although I am an extrovert by birth I have changed to an 'introverted' life of sorts in retirement. With the cats I don't need human companionship. I see this as balancing the opposites in the psyche, allowing my lesser self {introverted} to blend with my natural extroverted personality. In Jungian psyche balance is key to happiness, incorporating the other aspects into life {we all possess lesser and primary aspects}. Cats are a lot like the balanced self. Private animals but with the ability to adapt and live with us humans. But on their terms which is how I have constructed my life in retirement.

Jerry

Age & Gender & Location {Required}: 66