C’mon, Get HAPPY: New bill aims to ease the financial burden of pet care

By Meredeth Barzen

As the great Dr. Kate Knutson once said, “It takes a lot of money to keep a living creature alive.” With that in mind, U.S. Representative Thaddeus McCotter has introduced a new piece of legislation called the HAPPY Act (a.k.a. “Humanity and Pets Partnered through the Years,” a.k.a. H.R. 3501—you can see why they’re sticking with just “HAPPY” in common usage.) If passed, the bill would allow pet owners to claim up to $3,500 in tax deductions for qualified pet care expenses per year, including vet bills.

“Well sign me up,” you might be saying. Hold your horses; first, we have to help get this thing passed. Clearly, this bill is important given the high cost of pet care, the lousy state of the economy and the fact that many families have had to give up their beloved pets because of they couldn’t afford to care for them. Your mission, should you choose to accept it: Let your Minnesota State Representatives know about this bill, and encourage them to support and co-sponsor it. Write letters telling them why the HAPPY Act is so important, in your own words or using this template.

OK, quick review: HAPPY Act, tax deduction, pet care, write letters. Got it? Good. GO TEAM!