Seizure and custody of animals exposed for soliciting alms

(1) The special police officer, or any other police officer acting either under the directions of the special police officer or in the circumstances given in third proviso to section 10, affecting the arrest of a person, who is found begging, may seize any animal, the sore, wound, injury, deformity or disease of which is exposed or exhibited by such person with the object of soliciting or receiving alms. (2) The police officer, affecting the seizure under sub-section (1), may send such an animal to any infirmary established under section 35 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 (59 of 1960) for detention therein pending orders of the Magistrate under sub-section (3) of this section. (3) The Magistrate, before whom the person found begging is brought, may direct that the animal shall be treated and cared for in such infirmary until it becomes fit for discharge or that it shall be sent to a pinjrapole, or if the veterinary officer-in-charge of the area in which the animal is found or such other veterinary officer as has been authorised by the rules made under section 38 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 (59 of 1960), certifies that it is incurable or cannot be cured without cruelty, that it shall be destroyed, and the Magistrate 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 Magistrate otherwise directs, be released from such place except upon a certificate of its fitness for discharge is 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 38 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 (59 of 1960).