(4) CHAPTER. If a shepherd or a deputy saw dying sheep or something which is going to be spoiled, he is allowed to slaughter the sheep and save the thing liable to be spoiled.
Narrated Ibn Ka`b bin Malik from his father: We had some sheep which used to graze at Sala'. One of our slavegirls saw a sheep dying and she broke a stone and slaughtered the sheep with it. My father said to the people, Don't eat it till I ask the Prophet about it (or till I send somebody to ask the Prophet). So, he asked or sent somebody to ask the Prophet, and the Prophet permitted him to eat it. 'Ubaidullah (a sub-narrator) said, I admire that girl, for though she was a slave-girl, she dared to slaughter the sheep .