Comments on: Tax Deductions for Pet Care

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 20:29:14 +0000

This would be great. We have 2 cats and 2 dogs. Thank goodness we have Banfield at Pet Smart. A vet is way to expensive. Last year in a month we spent $3,500 to try and find out what was wrong with our one cat.We pay around $20 to $25 for each animal a month for health ins. Can't afford not to.

By: Lynn in Johns Creek GA

Lynn in Johns Creek GA — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 21:38:34 +0000

You forget, they(federal gov't) already have your money, you give it to them every week before you get your paycheck, it is sent by your employer to the feds. Wo why would someone think there is something wrong with this bill? This is your money you are trying to get returned to you. anytime we are given the option of a tax credit or deduction we ought to all jump at the chance. Don't forget, it is your money in the first place.
A tax deduction or credit would be great for keeping animals out of shelters or abandoned. It can make a difference, every little bit helps and I personally don't sneeze at $3500-
I have 6 rescue pets and that amount is a drop in the bucket, but heck yeah, it helps.
Like I said and maybe for some of those out there it needs to be repeated over and over-
It is your money - money the gov't demands from you- you have no choice, you have to pay. We all could use a break. I doubt Washington will pass this, they are so broke, they are looking under mattresses for money-better hide yours!

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 15:33:49 +0000

I own 8 cats. I think this bill is stupid. A tax deduction isn't going to prevent someone from abandoning a pet. People abandon pets because they are selfish, not because they can't afford them. The pet became too inconvenient, or they had to move someplace that doesn't allow pets. You can't prevent animal cruelty by mucking up the tax code. That is like claiming we can solve murder by raising taxes on everyone who commits a murder. Duh!

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 07:44:50 +0000

I'm extremely disappointed with the changes to the tax code for the last several years. I've got to keep receipts for change the kids throw into the pot at the Salvation Army stands at Christmas now to prove they did it even if it's less than $10, thank goodness we waited the 2 extra weeks to do the door and window replacements so we can deduct those expenses, but my $75 for Turbotax is cut down to $20 every year now because I don't spend money on an attorney?

I lost my job and when the pet food recall happened in 2007 my cat of 14 years ended up costing $750 and they still couldn't fix what was wrong because he had permanent kidney damage. I ended up putting him to sleep and that cost another $300. He was my friend. He slept by me every night for 14 years and I still miss him. Frankly, the tax deduction for the $1050 wouldn't have done much at the time to pay the bill, but it would have made me feel a little better come tax time. I still haven't gotten any acknowledgment from the pet food company and nothing has been done to fix the original problems that caused the recall in the first place.

This is one start to fixing some of the inequities of the tax code. Thank you!

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 15:25:22 +0000

I spent $9,000 on my epileptic dog in the last year of his life and i think this idea is ludicrous. The USA is essentially bankrupt today and the future is not looking bright. The unpleasant reality is that your taxes are going UP, not down, and this country will be going further into bankruptcy as every year goes by.

If the govt wants to help animals it should outlaw the breeding of pets. And this includes so-called "responsible" breeders, as if there were such a thing while millions of homeless animals wait and die in shelters.

By: mydogrocks

mydogrocks — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 14:51:34 +0000

anonymous @ 8:05 - have you considered the fact that sometimes you don't know if you can afford a specific pet until something happens? do you think everyone should budget $10-15k ore more into the life of their pet in case they get hit by a car or eat toxic pet food before it's recalled or get into the trash or whatever, not to mention the myriad genetic diseases and freak illnesses that affect many? certainly many people's expenses go above even a generous estimate of what it costs to "maintain" a pet. it would be unreasonable to expect most people to budget $25k to the life of a pet.

p.s. 63% of Americans does not = a "special interest".

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 08:05:40 +0000

My though is that is, like children, if you can't afford to maintain something that is NOT a necessity, you shouldn't have it. I own a pet, but feel with high unemployment, pending healthcare being forced on us and, my favorite, skyrocketing defecits, we shouldn't be paying for more taxbreaks for special interests. If everyone likes the socialistic ways Europeans receive breaks for owning a pet, pack up and move. I'm very disappointmented a republican introduced this, especially one from one of the states with highest unemployment, Michigan. Wake up America!

By: Libbi

Libbi — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 13:27:38 +0000

Thanks for all the comments! This is a much needed Bill. The only thing it would not cover would be expenses involving the purchasing or adopting of a pet. Everything else would be covered, much like the expenses incurred by parents for the 'human' children.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 12:47:41 +0000

Maybe they should include pet insurance into Obama's healthcare plan? Cover things from Vet to vet?

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 12:18:41 +0000

Would this include expenses paid for dog daycare or dog walkers?