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1. TheHouse
   Member Profile

   

   To those of you old timers on here, I hope you remember that I brought this up about a year ago.

   Although it doesn't look like it will go anywhere, a bill has been introduced by a Michigan Representative.

   http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113791908

   Like I stated a year ago, where do you draw the line on who/what is considered "family"? Pet owners have a legitimate argument considering how much they spend on their pet and b/c many of them consider their pets part of their "family".

   I'm against this, but just thought I'd share.

   Posted 2 years ago #         

2. Diana
   Member Profile

   I'm against this despite the fact that I have rescued animals all of my life and have spent countless thousands of dollars on their medical care. Frankly, I think people who have children should be taxed for them and not given a tax deduction for them! My pets are indeed family. I'm responsible for them, as it should be.

   Posted 2 years ago #         

3. B-squared
   Member Profile

   

   I agree with both of you. and i agree about the taking children as deduction. Both owning pets and reproducing are choices that should be made with the financial costs weighed in the decision. it's wrong to make these decisions and then decide that you want your tax burden reduced because of your decision. i can imagine some folks who wouldn't have wanted a pet before, suddenly thinking they should have one for the deductions. lame. fyi, i have two old cats who are wracking up costly vet bills, meds and special food bills. i would benefit from this law if it were to pass. but it's the wrong thing to do.

   Posted 2 years ago #         

4. WSB
   Member Profile

   

   Ah, the good old pets=children=yes they are=no they're not.

   Got one kid. Really, it's not that big of a tax deduction. And without the taxes he'll be paying into the system starting when he joins the work force in a few years, various aspects of our tax-funded infrastructure will crumble further. I've heard it said that things will be ugly at some point anyway because my contemporaries and I didn't have enough kids to replace ourselves when we move on.

   Cats and dogs will NOT be paying taxes into the system at any point. So that one's kind of apples and oranges. So how about other dependents? If you have a spouse who doesn't work outside the home, whether it's because she/he is too sick or too busy caring for kids or whatever, or a parent you're carying for who doesn't work any more, no dependent deduction?

   Lord knows the tax system is screwy enough anyway.

   Posted 2 years ago #         

5. KBear
   Member Profile

   Wow. Republicans will do anything to get out of paying their share of taxes.

   Posted 2 years ago #         

6. LisaM
   Member Profile

   

   I think the point of the Congressman is less animals vs. kids and more about alleviating the societal issue of domestic animal abuse and sheltering (much of which falls on tax-payers shoulders anyway)
   By preventing more animals being abandoned or relinquished due to economic hardship, this helps society as a whole (kinda like Cash for Clunkers.
   Perhaps is this is written as a one or two year tax break to get us through until the economy improves, it will make more sense to all.
   With the King Co shelter closing, the less abandoned animals the better for us all.
   FYI - I am a humane society volunteer and I can vouch for the fact that many more animals are being surrendered due to the inability of owners to pay for care due to job or home loss.

   Posted 2 years ago #         

7. Ken
   Member Profile

   

   Manufactured outrage? Donate to his Dem opponent!

   oops he does not have one but might have trouble against any generic Democrat even though his District was created in 2002 as a safe Republican sinecure. His only hope is to not join the Republican suicide pact as his Michigan district crumbles into epidemic foreclosure and retiree flight.

   The animal legislation has 2 cosponsors and was sent to committee in July where it will languish unread by anyone but Human interest (soon to be free lance) writers out to protect their own jobs.

   It's H.R.3501 if you want to look it up.

   It will die in committee along with hundreds more bills both bizarre and benign introduced for political reasons every year.

   We would actually benefit from such a bill. I got a quote of 3200 bucks for surgery to correct a blown out ACL on a 4 year old rescued Lab but it ain't gonna happen.

   Animals are a responsibility and every one I have is rescued from people who could no longer feed, house or take care of them. They get better health care than I do up to a point, but I can't afford to get my knee repaired either.

   If this congress critter had any sense, he would work on getting health care legislation passed for his constituents so some of them could keep their homes and afford to take care of their pets

   Posted 2 years ago #         

8. Lindsey
   Member Profile

   

   How would a tax deduction help pet owners be able to afford pets? Getting a refund at the end of the year or a deduction on the amount you pay in doesn't really help pay for the month to month expenses of a pet.

   Posted 2 years ago #         

9. maplesyrup
   Member Profile

   

   I want a tax deduction for my shrubs and lawn.

   Posted 2 years ago #         

10. hammerhead
    Member Profile

    

    Lord knows I have a few pets of my own. I would never expect to have a tax right off for them either, not even my rescue animals. I choose not have children.

    I think I should get a tax break for NOT having them. LOL.

    Ken call South Seattle Vet the ACL surgery will be half that of what your were quoted and many happy legs have walked out of there:)242-8338 tell them F.C.A.T referred you.

    It is a tough call to say if you can't afford the animal don't have it, god knows that should stand for the humans. Look at the welfare and DSHS system. It is tough, I see people all the time that need help and I do help them. I don't care if they are in Tacoma or West Seattle. If I can get help for them I will and do. We tax payers are burdened enough as are the shelters. I hesistate to ask for help for the local people that need help on the blog because there is SO much need. So I don't.

    While it saddens me to see people give up their pets because of money it happens again just look at our own LOCAL shelters and come with me when I trap cats and see what I see.

    Posted 2 years ago #         

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