Whenever an indictment is returned charging a violation of any provision of this chapter, or if an indictment is waived, the court shall order the animal or animals involved seized and held until final disposition of the charges and shall provide for the appropriate and humane care or disposition of the animal or animals. The provisions of this section may not be construed as a limitation on the authority under law to seize any animal as evidence at the time of an arrest. If any animal seized pursuant to the provisions of this section or otherwise seized in accordance with law is unable to survive humanely the final disposition of the charges, in the opinion of the court, the court may order the termination of the animal's life. Upon the conviction of the person charged, or upon a plea of guilty or of nolo contendere, any animal involved, whose life has not been terminated, becomes the property of the State and the court shall order a humane disposition of the animal.