_____ includes responsibility for the health, safety, and welfare of an animal subject to the person's care and control, regardless of ownership of the animal.

• A. Care
• B. Possession
• C. Custody
• D. Ownership

Answer: (C)

Custody is the responsibility for an animal’s health, safety, and welfare when the animal is under your care and control, even if you don’t own it. This distinction matters because ownership is about who holds legal title, and possession is about physical control, but custody links the duty to the actual situation of caring for the animal. When you have custody, you’re responsible for its well‑being during that time, regardless of who owns the animal. The other terms don’t fit as precisely: care describes the duty in general, but custody specifies the formal responsibility that comes with having the animal in your care and control.