Touching Dogs and Pigs by Veterinarians

By Mufti Ebrahim Desai
Posted: 26 Jamad-ul-Awwal 1422, 16 August 2001


Q.) Please tell me whether touching of dogs or pigs by veterinarians is haram or not. If it is permissible in Islam, should they wash their hands 7 times out of which one should be with sand? Jazakallahu Khairan. [Hafsa Suhail]

A.) It is permissible for vetenarians to touch dogs and pigs or any other animal. Latex gloves, etc. may be used in order that a person avoids direct contact with these animals.

If any impurity from the animal soils a person's hands, he should remove the impurity by washing the hands once. And Allah Ta'ala Knows Best.