Swords to Plowshares

Promoting a faith-based love for all creation.

Is it wrong to euthanize an animal?

2nd Answer (22 Oct 2025)

Euthenasia is always a difficult decision, and when it is done out of conpassion to end the suffering of a terminally ill/hurt animal, I think it would at most be considered a very small sin (if it is even a sin at all). Compassion should be shown for yourself and anyone else who is faced with that difficult decision. It may also be a case by case thing. If the animal is visibly in pain, it may be more justified than if the animal appears to be at peace and is just not eating or responding normally.

I always aim for the best case scenario, which would be miraculous intervention, so I would pray for God to perform a healing miracle. I’ve seen and heard stories of this happening with animals that had been declared terminally incurable by doctors. I also see my role as being a good steward, which usually means caring for them as best I can until their last breath. I do not see it as my responsibility or a doctor’s responsibility (in God’s eyes) to decide when to end their life. But again, when it is motivated by a desire to end an animal’s suffering, I think God would not hold it against someone for choosing euthanasia.

Hopefully you find this perspective helpful in making your decision. I am sorry you are faced with this dilemma, and your heart of compassion is clear from the distress this decision is causing you. Whatever the outcome, and whatever decision you make, I know God is full of compassion and forgiveness, and that He has the power to resurrect both humans and animals into His kingdom. I also believe He will do that at the last day. I pray for you to be reunited with all your beloved animal companions, past and present, on that day. I also pray for God to give you discernment about this dilemma and to comfort you through this dificult time.

May God be with you and with your beloved companion animal.

First Answer (11 Feb 2019)

God said to be stewards of the animals (Genesis 1:28), which means taking care of animals and not killing them. Euthanasia would therefore go against God’s instructions. It ends an animal’s life prematurely. We should pray for miraculous intervention (James 5:15) and do our part to heal and care for animals until God takes them rather than ending the life when it seems right in our own eyes that it should end (Proverbs 3:5-6, Judges 17:6).

Euthanasia tends to take on two primary forms. One is ending a terminally ill or incurably injured animal. The other is ending a shelter animal’s life that no one is willing to adopt and care for. The former is an act that stems from a desire to end an animal’s suffering. The latter is a desperate last resort when no one is willing or able to take on the responsibility of being the abandoned animal’s steward.

Therefore since the people euthanizing animals are, generally speaking, acting from a place of compassion or desperation rather than from a place of cruelty, I see euthanasia as a much less pressing issue than the rampant and unapologetic cruelty to animals that is so normalized in society and even within the church (Habakkuk 2:17). So although euthanasia goes against God’s ideal of stewardship and we are better off abstaining from doing it, the issue of intentional animal cruelty is much more pressing because it is indicative of a heart that lacks compassion (Proverbs 12:10) whereas euthanasia is not.