Destruction of suffering and unfit animals

(1) Any Police officer who in any street or place, other than a place of worship, finds any animal other than a cow or bull so diseased, or so severely wounded and in such a physical condition that in his opinion it cannot without cruelty be removed therefrom, shall, if the owner of the animal is absent or does not consent to the destruction of the animal, at once summon the Veterinary officer of the area in which the animal is found and if the Veterinary officer certifies that the animal is so mortally wounded or serverely diseased or in such a physical condition that it is cruel to keep it alive, the said Police officer may, without the permission of the owner, destroy the animal or cause it to be destroyed. But if the Veterinary Practitioner is of opinion that the animal can be removed from the place where it is found without causing it great suffering, and if the owner or person incharge of the animal, or in his absence any other person present on the spot, is willing or offers to remove the animal to the nearest veterinary hospital within such time as the Veterinary Practitioner considers reasonable, the Veterinary Practitioner shall allow the animal to be so removed. If the owner or person incharge of the animal or any other person does not consent or fails so to remove the animal, the Veterinary Practitioner may direct the Police officer to remove the animal before it is destroyed to such place as he may think fit: Provided that when any animal is destroyed in any street or public place it shall, as far as possible, be screened from the public gaze while it is being destroyed. Explanation:— For the purposes of this section the word “bull” shall not be deemed to include “bullock”. (2) The Government may appoint such persons as it thinks fit for veterinary treatment to be Veterinary Practitioners for the purposes of this section and determine