NC S2

Changes the standard for animal cruelty from "intentionally" to "recklessly" in G.S. 14-360(a), making it a Class 1 misdemeanor to recklessly overdrive, overload, wound, injure, torment, kill, or deprive animals of necessary sustenance.

Creates a Class H felony for recklessly killing an animal by intentional deprivation of necessary sustenance, and for maliciously or intentionally torturing, mutilating, maiming, cruelly beating, disfiguring, poisoning, or killing animals.

Allows courts to prohibit convicted animal abusers from having custody of animals for a reasonable period and to impose other reasonable restrictions on animal custody; violating such restrictions is a Class 1 misdemeanor.

Authorizes courts to order convicted animal abusers to receive psychiatric or psychological evaluation and treatment at the offender's own expense.

Creates a new Class 1 misdemeanor offense for intentionally failing to provide dogs with adequate shelter, defined as an artificial shelter with a waterproof roof that protects dogs from adverse weather; effective December 1, 2011.