PHOENIX, AZ--(Marketwired - Mar 31, 2015) - Following pressure from animal rights organization Last Chance for Animals (LCA) and other activists, Arizona Governor Doug Ducey vetoed a bill on Monday that would have weakened protections against animal cruelty.

Passed by both the state house and senate, HB 2150 would have greatly reduced penalties for heinous crimes against horses, pigs, cows and other farmed animals. It also would have barred local governments from passing their own laws against animal cruelty.

Under the bill, severe crimes against farmed animals would be reduced from felonies to misdemeanors; "abandonment" was omitted from the bill's proposed guidelines completely.

LCA and other animal advocacy groups worked to stop this bill via an online petition, social media posts, and letters and phone calls to the governor's office. LCA is pleased that Ducey appeared to listen to this public outcry.

"We commend the governor for putting ethics over corporate interests, and vetoing a bill that would have greatly weakened protections against animal cruelty," said Nina Hauptman, director of campaigns for Last Chance for Animals.

In his veto message, Ducey wrote, "I know we all agree that animal cruelty is inexcusable, unacceptable and absolutely will not be tolerated in the state of Arizona."

LCA continuously campaigns against laws that permit animal cruelty. The LCA website EndAgGagLaws.com is dedicated to stopping "ag-gag" bills, which block recordings at factory farms and other agricultural facilities and make it difficult to investigate animal abuse as well as human safety concerns.

Last Chance for Animals is an international animal advocacy organization that conducts undercover investigations and launches public awareness campaigns to expose animal cruelty. LCA's Sam Simon Investigation Unit travels the world to document abuse in research labs, puppy mills, factory farms and the entertainment industry. www.LCAnimal.org