Comments on: Action Alert: Proposed Tax Deductions For Pet Expenses H.R. 3501 http://24paws.com/blog/2009/08/19/action-alert-proposed-tax-deductions-for-pet-expenses-hr-3501/ No Leashes Required Tue, 31 Jan 2012 01:55:54 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: admin http://24paws.com/blog/2009/08/19/action-alert-proposed-tax-deductions-for-pet-expenses-hr-3501/comment-page-1/#comment-715 admin Fri, 09 Oct 2009 01:16:00 +0000 http://24paws.com/blog/?p=335#comment-715 We don’t see pets as "luxuries" that are, or should be, reserved for a specific demographic based on income or otherwise. We see pets as companion animals with whom we share our lives. You know how people say having a driver’s license is not a "right" but a privilege? That is how we feel about sharing our lives with a companion animal, it is a privilege, and one that should never be taken lightly or for granted. Even if you truly believe that animals are "luxuries" then you’re argument is flawed that they shouldn't be eligible for a tax credit. True "luxuries" like yachts, private jets, and the like are used as<a href="http://www.seattlepi.com/local/198998_boats10.html" rel="nofollow"> tax breaks</a>. Yes, thanks to the rate of unemployment and foreclosures many companion animals are finding themselves being turned over to animal shelters and rescues where they await a new family. Sometimes that family doesn’t come. Sometimes these once beloved animals are euthanized due to lack of space, funds, and people. Knowing this, how in the world could you argue that helping offset some of the burden responsible pet owners shoulder is "a sad idea?" Helping companion animals stay in their homes helps keep your taxes down (no tax increases for larger animal control facilities and related staff), animals off the street (some people will just dump an animal on the side of the road), keep animal shelters viable (there is a limited amount of space), and people healthier and happier (the emotional ties one has to a pet provides innumerable psychological and physical benefits). We believe the "Happy Act" can be one more tool to help keep companion animals in their homes and keep them healthy. This proposed legislation validates the financial obligation required of pet owners and thereby, stresses the lifetime commitment one makes when bringing a companion animal into the family. We don’t see pets as “luxuries” that are, or should be, reserved for a specific demographic based on income or otherwise. We see pets as companion animals with whom we share our lives. You know how people say having a driver’s license is not a “right” but a privilege? That is how we feel about sharing our lives with a companion animal, it is a privilege, and one that should never be taken lightly or for granted.

Even if you truly believe that animals are “luxuries” then you’re argument is flawed that they shouldn’t be eligible for a tax credit. True “luxuries” like yachts, private jets, and the like are used as tax breaks.

Yes, thanks to the rate of unemployment and foreclosures many companion animals are finding themselves being turned over to animal shelters and rescues where they await a new family. Sometimes that family doesn’t come. Sometimes these once beloved animals are euthanized due to lack of space, funds, and people. Knowing this, how in the world could you argue that helping offset some of the burden responsible pet owners shoulder is “a sad idea?”

Helping companion animals stay in their homes helps keep your taxes down (no tax increases for larger animal control facilities and related staff), animals off the street (some people will just dump an animal on the side of the road), keep animal shelters viable (there is a limited amount of space), and people healthier and happier (the emotional ties one has to a pet provides innumerable psychological and physical benefits).

We believe the “Happy Act” can be one more tool to help keep companion animals in their homes and keep them healthy. This proposed legislation validates the financial obligation required of pet owners and thereby, stresses the lifetime commitment one makes when bringing a companion animal into the family.

]]> By: Sloan JP http://24paws.com/blog/2009/08/19/action-alert-proposed-tax-deductions-for-pet-expenses-hr-3501/comment-page-1/#comment-714 Sloan JP Thu, 08 Oct 2009 21:10:34 +0000 http://24paws.com/blog/?p=335#comment-714 This is a sad idea. Pets are a luxury and should be treated as such. There's a lot of people maxed out on credit cards and facing foreclosure but still keeping pets http://debtbeat.com/2009/09/pet-debt.html. what gives? This is a sad idea. Pets are a luxury and should be treated as such. There’s a lot of people maxed out on credit cards and facing foreclosure but still keeping pets http://debtbeat.com/2009/09/pet-debt.html. what gives?

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