Section 496: Court may order destruction of animal

When the owner of any animal is convicted of an offence of cruelty under section 495
of this Code, it shall be lawful for the court, if the court is satisfied that it would be
cruel to keep the animal alive, to direct that the animal be destroyed, and to assign
the animal to a suitable person for that purpose. Any reasonable expenses incurred in
destroying the animal may be ordered by the court to be paid by the owner, and
thereupon shall be recoverable in like manner as a fine.