Tax rebate for pet owners

[PoodleMommy]

Originally Posted by Beanie

But I suppose choosing teaching as your profession is optional too, so you shouldn't get a break for that. And choosing to pursue higher education is optional too, so you shouldn't get a break for that. And contributing to your 401K and IRA is optional too, so you shouldn't get a break for that.
Sheesh, deductions are just insane...

good point... deductions are often used as an encouragement... (ie: provide deductions for people who get a higher education to encourage a higher education, etc) Why not encourage responsible ownership of pets?

[bubbatd]

I meant a break for those who pay for HS adoption and vetting .... not for food costs !

[Beanie]

Hmm, I would guess with the way the bill was written (to specifically exclude the costs of obtaining the pet) maybe they didn't want to allow a deduction for adoption and exclude a deduction for people who bought?
Personally tax deductions don't make me go out and do something I wasn't already going to do - I'm not sure about other people. But I'm sure shelters would really like to be able to tell people "This adoption fee is tax deductable!" And actually, I think it should be anyway.

[MericoX]

Why? Is a dog from a shelter worth more than a dog from a breeder?

[bubbatd]

They aren't worth more ,,,,, to me adoption from the HS is like donating to a good cause .

[Buckshot]

On one hand I love the idea. Every nickle I can get back from the government is a nickle that the government wont spend on becoming more stupid than it already is. On the other hand it may drastically increase the dog population so people can claim more dependants. I dont want to see the species suffer more than it does from our laws. Dogs are optional and so are children. Dogs wont ever pay taxes, children someday will...probably. Dogs wont get welfare, social security or any other nonconsented gifts of the people.
I suppose I am for it because it would allow me to keep a bit more of what is rightfully mine.

[Xandra]

Originally Posted by MericoX

Why? Is a dog from a shelter worth more than a dog from a breeder?

I think it would act as an incentive to encourage people to "adopt." Presumably a breeder's dogs have a good home regardless of whether they stay at the breeders or are purchased. The same cannot be said of shelter dogs so for the dogs' sake I think it is good when people "adopt."

Honestly if someone is wishy-washy enough that a tax break sways them to go to the pound for their dog it probably doesn't matter whether they buy their dog from a breeder or they "adopt"/buy their dog from a shelter.

[Xandra]

Originally Posted by Buckshot

On one hand I love the idea. Every nickle I can get back from the government is a nickle that the government wont spend on becoming more stupid than it already is.

Lol you are smarter than I am. I didn't look at it that way. Shame on me.

[Beanie]

Originally Posted by bubbatd

They aren't worth more ,,,,, to me adoption from the HS is like donating to a good cause .

Agreed - that's how I see it too. Donating to the shelter is tax deductible so adopting from a shelter could be seen as donating too... you just get a friend too!
Also when you adopt a child there are certain expenses that are deductible. I don't think anybody would think that means adopted children are "worth more" than a child you give birth to.


Buckshot, I like your view, LOL.


ETA: I agree with Xanda, I think if somebody was considering either adopting or buying a dog on pretty even ground, the fact that their adoption fee was tax deductible could become a factor and it might sway them. But if somebody really wants to buy a dog they will buy a dog even without going "But the ADOPTION FEE is DEDUCTIBLE!!" And the people who really want to adopt anyway, well, they'll... still adopt anyway, LOL. That's how I see it anyway.

[CaliTerp07]

If they're paying people to have kids, in a sense, why not pay people to have dogs as well?

I don't think it would ever pass either, but it's interesting.