Teacher's Guide: Tza'ar Ba'alei Chaim Biblical Laws

Deuteronomy
5:12
Observe the Sabbath to keep it holy, as God your Lord commanded you.
5:13
You can work during the six weekdays, and do all your tasks,
5:14
but Saturday is the Sabbath to God your Lord, so do not do anything that constitutes work. [This includes] you, your son, your daughter, your male and female slave, your ox, your donkey, your [other] animals, and the foreigner who is in your gates.  Your male and female slaves will then be able to rest just as you do.

Genesis
9:4
But nevertheless, you may not eat flesh of a creature that is still alive. 
You may not rip a limb off of an animal and eat it.  God allowed for eating animals but even before the laws of slaughtering an animal for Kashrut, God implemented humane laws to prohibit cruelty to animals, even animals that we eat. 

Deuteronomy
25:4
Do not muzzle an ox when it is treading grain.
According to the Bible, you must not muzzle an ox even when it is working the land for you.  The ox must be allowed to eat from the fields as it is working.  The law prohibits abuse of animals, even when we use animals for work.

Deuteronomy
22:10
Do not plow with an ox and donkey together.
The law is instituted because an ox is stronger and bigger than a donkey.  When working together, both animals will suffer pain, the donkey may be dragged along against its will and the ox will be slowed down.

Deuteronomy
22:6
If you come across a bird’s nest on any tree or on the ground, and it contains baby birds or eggs, then, if the mother is sitting on the chicks or eggs, you must not take the mother along with her young.
Even birds have emotional feelings.  We may eat the eggs or even take the eggs, but you must not do it when the mother is there. 

Deuteronomy
12:21
Since the place chosen by God your Lord to be dedicated to His name is far, you need only slaughter your cattle and small animals that God will have given you in the manner that I have prescribed. You may then eat them in your settlements in any manner you desire.
The laws of Shehitah/ slaughtering animals for food, is done in the most humane way, to prevent any pain to the animal.