State senators agreed Monday to boost the penalty for intentional abuse or killing of pets over objections from a lawmaker who said it could make criminals out of ranchers protecting their herds.

SB1295 would create a special Class 5 felony for subjecting pets to cruel mistreatment. And the same penalty would apply for killing a pet without the owner’s consent.

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey has vetoed a bill that would have created a separate set of animal cruelty laws for livestock and poultry than animals owned as pets.

My husband, children and I own and operate our 4th generation family ranch in northern Arizona. We take great pride in the well-being and quality care of our livestock. We follow best management practices consistent with the veterinarian-endorsed Beef Quality Assurance Program, including training and certification to provide the best care for our cattle. It is just the right thing to do. We have a responsibility to the consumer, to God, and to each other to be stewards of our animals and, therefore, work daily to keep them safe, healthy and secure.

The removal of a controversial provision didn’t go far enough to bring critics of a livestock cruelty bill on board, but the House of Representatives still narrowly passed the legislation.

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio threw his support today behind opponents of two bills moving through the Legislature that would, among other things, hand investigative powers to the Arizona Department of Agriculture in livestock abuse cases.