97Court may order destruction of animal

#### 97 Court may order destruction of animal 97 Court may order destruction of animal > > (1) This section applies if— > > > > > (a) a court convicts a person (the offender) of an offence under this Act or the regulations in respect of a greyhound or other animal, and > > > > > (b) the court is satisfied that the animal is so severely injured, so diseased or in such a physical condition that it is cruel to keep it alive. > > > (2) In convicting the offender, the court may— > > > > > (a) order that the animal be destroyed by a person specified in the order (a destruction order), and > > > > > (b) order the offender to pay the person specified in the destruction order the costs in respect of the destruction of the animal that are specified in the order (a payment order). > > > (3) The person specified in the destruction order is, as soon as practicable after the person has been served with the order, to destroy the animal to which the order relates, or cause it to be destroyed, in a manner that causes it to die quickly and without unnecessary pain. > > > (4) If a court makes a payment order, the person to whom the costs specified in the order are required by the order to be paid may recover those costs from the offender as a debt in a court of competent jurisdiction. > > > (5) A reference in this section and in sections 98 and 99 to an offence under this Act or the regulations includes a reference to an offence under section 530 of the [Crimes Act 1900](/view/html/inforce/current/act-1900-040) (Serious animal cruelty) that involves a serious act of cruelty committed in connection with the trialling or training of a greyhound.