Seizure and disposal of animals

(1) Any Police Officer or other person effecting, under sub-section (1) of section 3, the arrest of a person who was found begging may seize any animal the sore, wound, injury, deformity or disease of which was exposed or exhibited by such person with the object of soliciting or receiving alms. (2) The Police Officer or other person effecting the seizure may remove such animal to any infirmary appointed under section 35 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1890, for detention therein pending orders of the Court under sub-section (3): Provided that the other person may hand over the seized animal to a Police Officer if he finds it convenient. (3) The Court before which the person found begging is brought may direct that the animal shall be treated and cared for in such infirmary until it is fit for discharge or that it shall be sent to a pinjrapole, or if the veterinary officer incharge of the area in which the animal is found or such other veterinary officer as has been authorised by the rules made under section 15 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1890, certifies that it is incurable or cannot be removed without cruelty, that it shall be destroyed; and the Court may also order that after release from the infirmary the animal may be confiscated. (4) An animal sent for care and treatment to any infirmary shall not, unless the Court directs that it shall be sent to a pinjrapole or that it shall be destroyed, be released from such place except upon a certificate of its fitness for discharge issued by the veterinary officer incharge of the area in which the infirmary is situated or such other veterinary officer as has been authorised by rules made under section 15 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1890.