Bill to allow for tax deduction on pets

[Wildwood Deckers]

Congressman Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI) recently introduced HR 3501, entitled "Humanity and Pets Partnered Through the Years (HAPPY) Act". This landmark legislation would permit pet owners to deduct up to $3500 from their taxable income for qualified expenses they incurred in providing care for their pets.

PetPAC believes that giving people the opportunity to deduct pet care expenses is a significant step toward ensuring that pets will receive proper health care, and will reduce the number of pets abandoned as a result of difficult economic times.

Share my video about HR 3501 with your friends and family, and ask them to help by contacting their Member of Congress. It is only through our direct action that significant change can happen. For your pets sake please join us today.

[Slickrock Deckers]

And this is going to reduce the deficit how? This is esentially the same amount you get to take off your income for having a child, and you don't even have to buy your dog any shoes!

This congressman wouldn't even vote to give the poor a tax deduction to buy health insurance, but he is just fine with giving everyone one to feed their dogs. There are two ways for the government to stop spending more than it takes in. They can reduce spending, or they can raise taxes. Only they usually raise spending and reduce taxes. What programs does this guy suggest cutting so we can give every pet owner in America a tax cut?

[Danielle_Atencio]

I saw this posted on one of the Rat Terrier boards and figured I would share a little different point of view on this.

--Danielle
___________________________________________

Forward to all ........

10/30/2009

To: All within reading distance.... ..

From:
Linda D. Witouski & Ken Sondej,
owners - the Monthly National Legislation Report, an IRS 527 PAC.

Greetings to All !
We have received numerous emails regarding the "Happy Act", i.e.
HR3501, {the pet owner's tax break bill}
asking for our thoughts. We ask that you consider the below
prior to signing any petition in support of this bill.

HR3501, although appearing to be very appealing and beneficial to
breeders and animal owners, should be opposed.

It is of our opinion that this bill does exactly what it was intended
to do. To draw in unsuspecting breeders who believe they are getting
a "break" and it is being done exactly in the style to which we who
work legislation are accustomed to seeing, or should be accustomed to
seeing, by now.

Those who believe this is a 'good thing' should stop and reconsider
how bills are amended as they make their way through Congress.
Although some feel it worthy of support as currently written,
consideration needs to be given regarding the amendments that HSUS
could/would add that most likely will end up not benefiting breeders
at all, rather, it could/would be more detrimental to your rights to
own animals in the end. This is not an unfamiliar tactic in politics,
as many of you more experienced in the legislative arena are aware -
gain the support of the opposition with some "feel good" legislation,
amend, amend, amend - and then advise Congress that it was "what
everybody wanted." If you sign on to it in the beginning, you have no
defense - you signed up to support it and your signature on any
petition will be proof positive.

Everybody should be aware by now that the HSUS is looking at taxes
that are not being collected from breeders, as evidenced in the not
so long ago Indiana confiscation in which back taxes surpassed
$130,000. No better way could possibly exist in tracking hobby
breeders than to claim they were avoiding paying income taxes on
their dogs. In order to claim deductions, you must first claim a
profit, and in doing so, hobby breeders will no longer be considered
as such and would then fall under other more stringent regulations,
possibly causing the hobbyist to be reconsidered as a "business." In
addition, there are many rural and urban areas that are not zoned for
"business" and many hobby breeders will then be in the target scope
and in jeopardy of losing their animals because of "zoning
regulations and restrictions" in those particular areas that are not
zoned for business. Professional, licensed breeders already deduct
expenses. Hobbyists, by signing any petitions, would be voluntarily
setting themselves up to lose their hobbyist status and would then be
required to prove all expenses for their animals once they are
considered as "professional breeders." While you, as a hobbyist, may
gain on one level, you will surely lose on several others once your
status is changed.

As "Happy" as this bill may sound, there are far too many unanswered
questions when reading in between the lines and while this bill, as
is currently written, appears to only entail "health care for
animals", can you possibly conceive in your own mind that HSUS or any
other anti animal group will leave it as is when it gives them the
perfect opportunity to add to it as it makes its way through the
legislation process?

Additionally, allowing (up to) a $3500. deduction also increases the
potential of a dog's value. Animal rights attorneys are constantly
testing the courts in this currently gray area for purposes of
malpractice and emotional damages. Permitting deductions for dogs is
one more step up the "they are family and should be in an elevated
property status" ladder.

We fully realize that the "Happy Act", HR3501, is a "feel good" piece
of nationwide legislation to unsuspecting supporters but we also
realize that this bill has the potential of putting animals on the
same level as humans and sets a very dangerous precedent in equating
animals with the seniors, the elderly and children, who currently are
permitted to have deductions taken by their caregivers. This bill
creates the perfect backdrop for "guardianship. "

As such, the Monthly National Legislation Report, and the
organizations listed below, oppose this bill and asks that you take
the time to consider all possible ramifications prior to making any
decision other than opposition.

Currently, the following organizations have joined the MNLR in
opposing HR3501:
SAOVA
MOFED
Nevada Animal Owners & Sportsmen - Voting Alliance
SC Animal Owners & Sportsmen Voting Coalition
SC Federation of Dog Clubs

*Note: If your organization would like to join the Opposed list,
please drop an email to
4winds@viawest. net or

dropfred13@aol. com