AbulUshara' reported on the authority of his father: He asked: Messenger of Allah, is the slaughtering to be done only in the upper part of the breast and the throat? The Messenger of Allah ﷺ replied: If you pierced its thigh, it would serve you. Abu Dawud said: This is the way suitable for slaughtering an animal which has fallen into a well or runs loose.  

أَنَّهُ قَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَمَا تَكُونُ الذَّكَاةُ إِلاَّ مِنَ اللَّبَّةِ أَوِ الْحَلْقِ قَالَ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ لَوْ طَعَنْتَ فِي فَخِذِهَا لأَجْزَأَ عَنْكَ