Laws that "protect" animals

"Every state in the United States and the District of Columbia has a law prohibiting cruelty to animals.  These laws do not give animals rights, but do afford some legal protection.  The purposes of these laws is to deter violence by humans in any form as well as to protect animals from mistreatment and cruelty by imposing a penalty for those acts.  Most of these laws fall under the purpose of morality, meaning the purpose is not to protect the animals, but to keep people on the straight and narrow.  Whatever the reason, many more states are recognizing that animal cruelty, neglect and abuse are serious issues.  There are now 41 states plus the District of Columbia with felony provisions for animal cruelty."

I think that although they are laws for avoiding animal abuse, in many cases they arent respected and brake this laws. And most of the times the government doesn't know about this crimes.