Which action constitutes neglect of an animal by failing to provide necessary food, water, care, or shelter?

• A. Causes bodily injury to an animal without owner's consent
• B. Transports or confines an animal in a cruel manner
• C. Fails unreasonably to provide necessary food, water, care, or shelter for an animal in the person's custody
• D. Abandons unreasonably an animal in the person's custody

Answer: (C)

Neglect here means failing to provide the animal’s basic needs while you are responsible for it. The action described is unreasonably not giving necessary food, water, care, or shelter to an animal in your custody. The emphasis is on the omission of essential care when you have the duty to provide it, not on actions that cause harm or on abandoning the animal. The other scenarios involve active harm or removing care in different ways (injury, cruel transport, or abandonment), whereas neglect is specifically about not supplying the basics the animal needs.