Killing harmful dogs

Fatwa no. 21480 Praise be to Allah, Alone. May peace and blessings be upon the Last Prophet.The Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta' reviewed the question submitted to His Excellency the Grand Mufty by His Royal Highness the Deputy Prince of Riyadh. The question was referred to the Committee from the Secretariat General of the Council of Senior Scholars under no. (2260), dated (15/4/ 1421 A.H.) Following is the wording of His Royal Highness:His Excellency the Secretary General of Riyadh sent us the enclosed letter no. (13/307) dated (11/3/1421 A.H.) concerning the problem of the increase in the number of stray dogs in some districts in Riyadh. (Part No. 26; Page No. 209) Moreover, these dogs are widespread in the populated areas despite the enormous efforts of the governorate to fight them. Indeed, the traditional applied ways of poisoning these dogs proved inefficient. His Excellency is asking for the ruling on using guns especially that they prove efficacious in other districts. We would like Your Eminence to issue a Fatwa regarding using these guns.

After studying the matter, the Committee replied as follows:The reason provided in the inquiry is not considered a valid excuse to permit killing these dogs. Therefore, it is not permissible to kill the relevant dogs. May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.