Is it permissible to practice euthanasia on animals that suffer a lot and do not respond to treatment?

I work as a veterinary. Two of the horses that I am responsible for are very old and one of them has cancer in its foot. The animals suffer when they walk. The other is half paralyzed and does not respond to treatment. Is there a religions drawback to performing euthanasia on them?

Dear Brother / Sister,

Our Lord, who created man in the best form, sent him to the world as the master of all creatures and the vicegerent on earth. Besides, if we accept man as the central point, everything in the realm of existence is at his command and service; everything works and makes effort in order to meet his needs.

In addition, there is a stunning system, a perfect order that involves a general solidarity and creatures helping one another in the world. Non-living things help plants and plants help animals.  

Thousands of species of animals from the smallest ones that are always with men and meet his needs to elephants work for man. We benefit from them through various ways. It is a treat and grant of Allah to us. These issues are stated as follows in the Quran:

“It is Allah Who made cattle for you, that ye may use some for riding and some for food; And there are (other) advantages in them for you (besides); that ye may through them attain to any need (there may be) in your hearts; and on them and on ships ye are carried.” (al-Mu’min, 40/79, 80)

“And cattle He has created for you (men): from them ye derive warmth, and numerous benefits, and of their (meat) ye eat. And ye have a sense of pride and beauty in them as ye drive them home in the evening, and as ye lead them forth to pasture in the morning.” (an-Nahl, 16/5, 6)

In that case, it is our right to use the flesh, skins, milk, wool of some animals and the power of others; similarly, it is normal for us to slaughter some of them in order to eat them, to make them carry our loads; it is also appropriate to use some of them for human health and for the treatment of some of our illnesses.  

Is it not one of the wisdoms behind their creation to benefit from them through various ways? It might seem like torturing animals to try some drugs planned to be used for people on some animals like rats, cats and dogs first but it should not be regarded as strange since it will serve human health. If we feel pity for the animals and try the drug on a person first and if that drug causes that person to die, is his death better than the death of an animal?  

It is permissible and appropriate for an animal to be slaughtered and to be used in treatment in order to cure a person. It is nothing but a religious fanaticism for some people to oppose it with the claim of “animal loving”.

It is permissible to perform euthanasia on animals as a result of the decision made by veterinaries when the treatment of an animal is not possible. However, it is not appropriate to kill an animal because of old age, etc. 

(Mehmed Paksu, Helal – Haram)

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