In the context of cruelty to non-livestock animals, a person commits an offense if they intentionally do which of the following?

The correct option addresses the most severe form of cruelty, which involves the intentional act of torturing an animal or causing it serious bodily injury. This reflects a clear understanding of the legal definitions and frameworks surrounding animal cruelty. Laws designed to protect animals often categorize actions that inflict severe pain, suffering, or lasting harm as criminal offenses due to their ethical implications and the substantial harm they cause.

Torture or inflicting serious bodily injury indicates a deliberate and malicious intent, which is key to establishing the severity of the offense. This form of cruelty is not only a violation of animal welfare laws but also raises broader concerns regarding the moral and psychological state of the individual committing such acts.

Other options, while they may constitute inappropriate treatment of non-livestock animals, do not carry the same level of severity. Abandoning an animal, feeding it improperly, or neglecting grooming can all be considered irresponsible or neglectful but are typically classified as lesser offenses compared to acts of torture or serious injury. These actions can lead to harmful consequences for the animals involved, but the extent and intent behind them differ significantly from outright torture or serious harm, which is why the latter is treated with much stricter legal consequences.