(1)Any Police Officer, who, in any street or public place other than a place of worship, finds any animal other than a bull or cow so diseased, or so severely injured, and in such a physical condition that in his opinion it cannot without cruelty be removed, shall if the owner is absent or refuses to consent to the destruction of the animal, at once summon the Veterinary Officer in charge of the area in which the animal is found, and, if the Veterinary Officer certifies that the animal is mortally injured or so severely injured, or so diseased, or in such a physical condition that it is cruel to keep it alive, the Police Officer, may without the consent of the owner, destroy the animal or cause it to be destroyed:Provided that if in the opinion of the Veterinary Officer the animal can be removed from the place where it is found without causing it great suffering and if the owner or person in charge of the animal or in their absence any other person on the spot is willing and offers to remove the animal to a Veterinary Hospital or Pinjrapole within such time as the Veterinary Officer considers reasonable, the Veterinary Officer shall allow the animal to be removed by such owner, person in charge of the animal, or such other person; and if the owner or person in charge of the animal or such other person is unwilling or fails so to remove the animal, the Veterinary Officer may direct the Police Officer to remove the animal before it is destroyed from the place where it is found to such other place as he may think fit:Provided further that when the 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:Provided also that before destroying or causing to be destroyed any diseased animal in any place, the Health Officer of the area concerned or other prescribed officer of the Department of Public Health shall be consulted.
