Queston:
Assalamu Alaikum Imam,
Can you please give me your advice? I will try to make this short.
We adopted a pure-bred Chow Chow puppy from a breeder 3 years ago. (We had a Chow dog before who was perfectly behaved. He died of old age.)
This dog after 3 years has not learned potty training. When he feels he’s not getting enough attention, he is going to the bathroom in my house. :( He has ruined our carpets. We’ve tried different things to get him to stop and it’s not working. We decided we have to get rid of him.
The problem is- Chows are special dogs that need special owners that understand their temperament. They are “one person” dogs and can also have a mean streak. My dog [private] is very attached to me. He has been good with other people and other animals while we’ve had him but unfortunately, last year when he was very frightened at the vet …. my brother in law was trying to pick him up to put him on the scale to be weighed … and he bit him in the face. The dog actually loved my brother in law- but it was out of fear.
Well, once a dog has bitten someone for any reason, the experts say he should be euthanized and not given to another family. Not only is their potential for him to bite someone else — we can get sued and financially ruined if he does bit anyone.
So Imam, is my best moral choice/obligation to euthanize my dog? :( :( This is so hard for me. But I want to do what is right and what Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) would do!
Thank you for your advice.
Answer:
wa `alaykum salam,
It is not haram to own a dog, though it is not hygienic and because of that not permissible to keep a dog in the house as a pet. If there is absolutely no chance of an animal recovering, then euthanasia is permitted.
Imam Senad Agic
Head Imam (IABNA)
The Islamic Association of Bosniaks in North America
American Islamic Center – Chicago
