(1) The Veterinary Authority may cause any animal suffering from a prescribed disease or suspected animal, or any animal which had been in the same stable, shed, pen, field, pasture, or other similar place, or in the same herd or flock as, or in contact with, any animal suffering from a prescribed disease or suspected animal, whether or not any such place has been declared to be an infected place or is within an infected area, to be slaughtered in order to prevent the spread of the disease; and for such purpose the Veterinary Authority may give all such directions as he or she may consider necessary.