97Animal or thing to be returned to person entitled

97 Animal or thing to be returned to person entitled (1) If required by section 95(3) or 96(4) to deal with an animal or thing under this section, the CEO must: (a) deal with the animal or thing in accordance with any order made by a court concerning the return or disposal of the animal or thing; or (b) return the animal or thing to a person who the CEO believes on reasonable grounds is a person entitled to it. (2) However, the CEO may instead deal with the animal or thing under section 98 if: (a) the CEO has taken all reasonable steps to find a person entitled to it but has been unable to do so; or (b) no person entitled to it is willing to take possession of it; or (c) its owner, or another person with a legal right to sell it, authorises the CEO, in writing, to deal with it under section 98.