Contact your Representive NOW for YES on H.R. 3501
Tell your House Presentative to Vote "YES" for the HAPPY ACT, - House Bill H.R. 3501!
As you, your family and your neighbors are forced to trim budgets to make ends meet, innocent animals go without adequate care or even lose their homes. The current national financial pinch, with pet owners losing jobs, loosing their homes, is reflected by the nation’s shelters, and in far too many cases - the streets - becoming overrun with once beloved pets who can no longer be cared for.
The Humanity And Pets Partnered through the Years or HAPPY Act (H.R. 3501) - Hey, I didn’t write the name, I’m just reporting it. - was just introduced to the U.S. House of Representatives and is currently before the House Committee on Ways and Means.
The text in the bill states:
The Congress finds the following:
(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.
The Act would amend the Internal Revenue Code to allow an individual to deduct up to $3,500 for "qualified pet care expenses" - including veterinary care - for a legally owned, domesticated, live animal.
An unique feature of this bill is that it specifically intended for home companion PETS. No research or commercial establishment will benefit by this bill for warehousing animals. In other words, it will not encourage increased explotation of animals for monetary commercial gain.
With that astonding Sixty-three percent of all American homes having pets even a small tax deduction for responsible pet ownership could go a long way in allowing us to keep our beloved friends in our homes and toward keeping them in good health.
Yes, this bill will provide tax relief for us everyday, thin-walleted pet owners, but can do more than it seems on the surface. IF it passes, this bill can:
• Allow pet owners to make more frequent- and necessary – visits to their veterinarian for preventive and emergency care
• Help those who must have a companion animal for medical needs
• Help decrease animal dumping due to financial hardship
• Encourage more people to adopt the countless animals filling America's shelters
So, you ask, What Can I do? Well...
- Read the bill presently before the House Committee on Ways and Means, >>House Bill H.R. 3501. http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h111-3501 - and then
- Contact your California House Representatives Directly (or whatever state you may reside in, dear reader) to SPONSOR and support the tax deduction for pet care expenses! and/or
- Go to the Care2 TAKE ACTION Petition to add your support to this bill. http://www.care2.com/go/z/e/AFphG/zJnZ/oP7F
URGE your House Presentative - TODAY - to Vote "YES" for - House Bill H.R. 3501!
SAVE TAXES While SAVING OUR PETS.
Personal note: Why is Finding (1) in the bill? Well, think about it -63% of the nation's households is a HUGE voting block! ( This figure is reflected in Santa Clara County, BTW and that aforementioned obvious block of local voters means you, as a dog owner have a voice - if you choose to use it)
Please let this writer know that you have contacted your Representative. On behalf of all the companion animals who do not have a voice -- thank you for taking action.
A BIG Woof for now!
For more information about the online community supporting healthy and green living, human rights and animal welfare, please visit: Care2
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