In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,--
(a) "animal" means any living creature other than a human being;
[(b) "Board" means the Board established under section 4, and as reconstituted from time to time under section 5A;]
(c) "captive animal" means any animal (not being a domestic animal) which is in captivity or confinement, whether permanent or temporary, or which is subjected to any appliance or contrivance for the purpose of hindering or preventing its escape from captivity or confinement or which is pinioned or which is or appears to be maimed;
(d) "domestic animal" means any animal which is tamed or which has been or is being sufficiently tamed to serve some purpose for the use of man or which, although it neither has been nor is being nor is intended to be so tamed, is or has become in fact wholly or partly tamed;
(e) "local authority" means a municipal committee, district board or other authority for the time being invested by law with the control and administration of any matters within a specified local area;
(f) "owner", used with reference to an animal, includes not only the owner but also any other person for the time being in possession or custody of the animal, whether with or without the consent of the owner;
(g) "phooka" or "doom dev" includes any process of introducing air or any substance into the female organ of a milch animal with the object of drawing off from the animal any secretion of milk;
(h) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this Act;
(i) "street" includes any way, road, lane, square, court, alley, passage or open space, whether a thoroughfare or not, to which the public have access.
STATE AMENDMENTS
Karnataka
Amendment of section 2.--In section 2 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 (Central Act 59 of 1960) (hereinafter referred to as the Principal Act),--
(i) after clause (a), the following shall be inserted, namely:---
"(aa) "Bulls race or Bullock cart race" means any form of bulls race including race of Bullock cart as a traditional sports involving Bulls whether tied to cart with the help of wooden yoke or not (in whatever name called) normally held as a part of tradition and culture in the state on such days and places, as may be notified by the State Government."; and
(ii) after clause (d), the following shall be inserted, namely:--
"(dd) "Kambala" means the traditional sports event involving Buffalo's (male) race normally held as a part of tradition and culture in the state on such days and places, as may be notified by the State Government."
[Vide Karnataka Act 2 of 2018, s. 2].
Maharashtra
Amendment of section 2 of 59 of 1960.--In section 2 of the Prevention of Cruelty to animals Act, 1960 (59 of 1960), in its application to the State of Maharashtra (hereinafter referred to as “the principal Act”), after clause (b), the following clause shall be inserted, namely:--
“(bb) “bullock cart race” means an event involving bulls or bullocks to conduct a race, whether tied to cart with the help of wooden yoke or not (by whatever name called), with or without a cartman with a view to follow tradition and culture on such days and in any District where it is being traditionally held at such places, as may be previously approved by the District Collector, and also known as “Bailgada Sharyat”, “Chhakadi” and “shankarpat” in the State of Maharashtra;”.
[Vide Maharashtra Act 45 of 2017, s. 2].