35Power to alleviate suffering

35 Power to alleviate suffering (1) A veterinarian may destroy an animal, or cause it to be destroyed, if the veterinarian is of the opinion that: (a) the animal is so severely injured, or diseased, or in such poor physical condition that it is cruel to keep it alive; and (b) the animal: (i) would not otherwise be destroyed; or (ii) would be destroyed in a way that is likely to cause or contribute to unnecessary suffering. (2) The destruction of the animal must be done in a way that causes the animal to die quickly and without unnecessary suffering. (3) Before acting under subsection (2), a veterinarian may first remove the animal to a place the veterinarian considers appropriate for the purpose. (4) A veterinarian who exercises a power under this section is entitled to receive from a person in control of the animal the reasonable costs incurred in exercising the power and may recover those costs as a debt owed to the veterinarian.