Establishing laws to prevent cruelty and neglect

Apparently Shelby County, Tennessee is considering a new law to protect pets from cruelty and neglect. I, of course, thought these laws existed everywhere, but apparently they don't. I have been watching the news stories on this and the local paper, the Memphis Commercial Appeal has a great editorial on passing these new laws. They say in the editorial we should not have to have laws against cruelty and neglect, we should know better, but we don't.
Check it out here.