What is the ruling on going to public places that contain statues of animate beings, knowing that these places were not originally built for the sake of the statues?

It is not forbidden to enter or sit in places that contain prohibited pictures and statues. It is stated in "Al-Mughni" by Ibn Qudamah that entering a house that contains a picture is not forbidden, and this is the apparent meaning of Ahmad's words and the Maliki school of thought. This is supported by the Prophet's (PBUH) entry into the Kaaba while it contained pictures, Abdullah ibn Mas'ud's entry into a house that contained statues, and Ali ibn Abi Talib and the Companions' entry into churches to eat while they contained pictures. This confirms the permissibility of entering these places.