If an animal is afflicted with a disease that may be contagious, or with an accident, or with old age, is it permissible to kill it?
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The questioner : May Allah forgive you. Some animals owned by a person, whether they are edible or not, may be afflicted with diseases or accidents, or become old. If they are in severe pain, or if they have a disease that is feared to be contagious, should they be killed or left alone?
The Shaykh : If a person has an animal for which he is responsible because it is in his ownership or in his possession, and this animal is afflicted with a disease that prevents benefiting from it, there is no harm in killing it. In this case, it will be a burden on him, and he will be obligated to spend on it, which would be a waste of money since he spends on something from which he gains no benefit. Therefore, we say there is no harm in killing this animal if it is sick and you cannot benefit from it, or if there is a fear of a harmful contagion to other animals, provided it is under your responsibility.
As for if it is outside your responsibility, such as a donkey, a dog, or a beast in the wilderness over which you have no authority, leave it until Allah decrees for it what is to be done.
The questioner : And what if it is under the responsibility of official authorities?
The Shaykh : No, the official person responsible for looking after animals is responsible for them just as the one who directly owns them is.
The questioner : If it is afflicted with an accident that kills it.
The Shaykh : If a person has an animal for which he is responsible because it is in his ownership or in his possession, and this animal is afflicted with a disease that prevents benefiting from it, there is no harm in killing it. In this case, it will be a burden on him, and he will be obligated to spend on it, which would be a waste of money since he spends on something from which he gains no benefit. Therefore, we say there is no harm in killing this animal if it is sick and you cannot benefit from it, or if there is a fear of a harmful contagion to other animals, provided it is under your responsibility.
As for if it is outside your responsibility, such as a donkey, a dog, or a beast in the wilderness over which you have no authority, leave it until Allah decrees for it what is to be done.
The questioner : And what if it is under the responsibility of official authorities?
The Shaykh : No, the official person responsible for looking after animals is responsible for them just as the one who directly owns them is.
The questioner : If it is afflicted with an accident that kills it.