Tzaar Baalei Chayim

From Halachipedia

Tzaar Baalei Chayim

  1. If there’s a need for people it’s permissible to kill animals such as killing a fly that’s bothering someone who’s eating or mice who ate eating one’s food. However, it’s preferable to kill the animals by the use of something else and not to kill them with one’s hands directly unless that’s impossible. [1]

Sources

  1. The Rama EH 5:14 writes that for a health reason or another need this prohibition is waived. Similarly, Rav Moshe in Igrot Moshe CM 2:47 writes that it is permitted to kill a bug that is ruining food or is bothering people. In any event, he adds, in order to avoid a practice that may engender cruelty, if it’s possible one shouldn’t kill the bug directly but rather by placing an object on top of it. Sh”t Mishneh Halachot 12:284 and Chut Shani (Shabbat vol 1, p. 124) agree.