A pet tax-exempt initiative has been put forth, and if passed, will allow animal owners to deduct as much as $3,500 from their 2010 tax returns for pet care expenses. The bill is cited as the `Humanity and Pets Partnered Through the Years (HAPPY) Act’ spearheaded by actor/animal welfare activist Leo Grillo and Congressman Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI).
The findings by Congress to justify the bill:
(1) According to the 2007-2008 National Pet Owners Survey, 63 percent of United States households own a pet.
(2) The Human-Animal Bond has been shown to have positive effects upon people’s emotional and physical well-being.
A pet tax-exemption will also encourage owners to take better care of their animals, said Grillo. “Pet owners will have more discretionary income from which to do that, and we think there will be a demand for pets since they will be more affordable,” he added.
New bill could make dog owners very "HAPPY"
The New York headquarters of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals agrees. “Pet care can be expensive,” said Emily Brand, ASPCA’s national spokesperson. “And in these trying economic times, families all over the country have been forced to give up their pets because of financial hardship.” Most owners spend an average of $800 each year caring for their pets.
Brand believes if owners are able to receive tax relief, “more pets [will] get to remain in their loving 
homes and [not] wind up on the streets or in the already overburdened shelter system,” she said. ASPCA celebrates Adopt-a-Shelter-Dog Month each October for good reason. (Newswire)
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