Is it permissible to kill a rabid or vicious dog?

Chapter on Selling the Musarrah (Animal with milk retained in udder)

Al-Mughni

Book of Sales

Book 12 · Issue 2 · Bab 5

Open in Qurani

Primary text

It is permissible to kill a vicious dog (*al-kalb al-'aqur*). Evidence for this is the statement of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, classifying five creatures as wicked (*fasiq*) that may be killed in both consecrated and non-consecrated areas: the crow, the kite, the scorpion, the mouse, and the vicious dog. This ruling applies even if the vicious dog is trained (*mu'allam*), based on the aforementioned reports.