What action is NOT considered cruelty to animals according to the established legal elements?

Training an animal for police work is not considered cruelty according to established legal elements. In fact, training for law enforcement purposes is generally seen as an essential and beneficial practice that enhances the animal's skills for various tasks, such as detecting drugs, locating missing persons, or apprehending suspects. These training programs are designed to develop a healthy and productive relationship between the animal and its handler, ensuring the well-being of the animal while serving a public safety function.

The other actions listed, such as beating or neglecting an animal, clearly fall under the definition of animal cruelty as they involve causing harm or failure to provide necessary care to the animal. Using an animal as a lure, with the specified exception for fishing, typically also constitutes cruelty, as it can involve putting the animal in a harmful situation. Therefore, the correct answer highlights the distinction between acceptable animal training practices and actions that would be considered abusive or neglectful.