Right now there is a proposed Federal bill that would allow pet owners to deduct ownership of cats, dogs, birds, lizards, and more from your taxes. Exotic animals would also be included in the break, as long as they are considered to be legal.
A $3500 Tax Break?
The proposed bill would allow up to $3500 tax deduction every year for things like pet food and veterinarian bills. The goal of the bill, according to the authors, is to make pet ownership more affordable and to prevent people from abandoning pets during a bad economy. It would also encourage greater pet ownership, and hopefully reduce the number of stray animals. There are currently 69 million households in the U.S. that claim to own a pet. The act is known as the HAPPY Act, an acronym for Humanity and Pets Partnered Through the Years. Pet Humane Societies across the U.S. have voiced support for the bill, as have veterinarians and pet manufacturers. Critics are attacking the bill as going too far for animal lovers, and taking away the focus on supporting people in need. Pets are a luxury item. To house, feed, and care for any animal is an expensive proposition. They can provide solace and mental well being to many individuals, but so can relationships with people, though an animal rarely talks back. To consider a tax break when the rest of the country is in dire financial need is not a prudent thing to do. Animal owners have done fine without a tax break all of these years. Using a down economy to justify a tax break for animal owners, just to prevent pets from being abandoned, is not reason enough. Taxes are at an all time high. Not just Federal, but State and Local taxes continue to rise despite a bad economy. Money is needed to help people in need. Not the pet owners who have already made the choice to own a pet.
John Vlahakis
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