Soc.Culture.Jewish Newsgroups Frequently Asked Questions and Answers URL: www.scjfaq.org/faq/12-45.html

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Question 12.45:
What is the Jewish view on euthanasia of animals?

Judaism desires the minimization of suffering of animals. So, if the animal is in pain or is badly injured, euthenasia would be preferrable than leaving the animal to suffer.In fact, the prohibition against causing pain to animals is a serious, and not only forbids Jews from causing pain to animals, but also requires Jews to help relieve the pain of animals. If an animal is in pain, and there is no chance of recovery, it would be Halachically permissible to put an animal to sleep via a painless procedure.

However, there is a Kabbalistic tradition that forbids the ending of any life.

For more information, see http://www.jewfaq.org/animals.htm and http://ohr.edu/ask/ask031.htm, which were consulted to develop this answer.

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