Section 496

When the owner of any animal is convicted of an offence of cruelty under the last preceding section, it shall he 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.