(1)A person commits an offence if the person performs an operation on a protected animal without due care and humanity.
(2)A person (“person A”) who is responsible for an animal commits an offence if—
(a)another person performs an operation on the animal without due care and humanity, and
(b)person A—
(i)permits that to happen, or
(ii)fails to take such steps (whether by way of supervising the other person or otherwise) as are reasonable in the circumstances to prevent that happening.
(3)This section is subject to the Protection of Animals (Anaesthetics) Act 1954 (c. 46).