I’ve had a few non-animal owning friends contact me for my opinion on this proposed tax-break on medical care for animals, as well as seeing interest in this bill floating around the dog world, mostly by good-intended people, who want the purpose of this bill (”To help low-income pet owners, and keep pets out of shelters”) to come true.
I’m hotly against this move, as well as the general movement for pet ‘guardianship’. The guardianship program is to move animals out of the class of ‘property’ and is the animal rights extremists main force in action to gain control of the country, and end pet ownership, and all ‘use’ of animals. No, not conspiracy theory, read their own words, the backers of this, and other legislation of it’s kind. Research, research, and then do more research before agreeing with any move regarding the things you love the most.
I don’t always like Dr Dolittler, but this post sums up why I’m against tax breaks on medical care for pets. In the end, it’s the people who are dumping pets due to high cost who’ll be footing the bill for responsible owners to get medical care they’d be getting anyhow. THIS will not help keep pets out of shelters, it’ll put more IN as taxes go up for everyone.
IMO this money could/should be used for more low-income (income-based) aid for pet owners, such as income-based care services. More alter clinics, etc for low income owners. Lets work on things to fix the PROBLEM, not to make the problem of low to middle income people having to place their pets in an emergency a larger issue because they’ll be paying higher taxes, and have less money in pocket for their pets. There’s more places to research this heated topic. It sounds all soft, and fluffy, and it of course WOULD help pet owners, but it won’t help the owners it’s being sold as the purpose for this legislation. Do we really think if someone is desperate enough to place an animal due to medical needs, that the thought of a tax refund will help them keep the pet? NO! These are people working hard to keep their heads above water, with interest in surviving the NOW, not getting a few bucks back in their pockets once tax time arrives. For those people who need help in binds, we need to help them while they’re in the bind, not give them more costs to cover through taxes, so they have less money to put towards their pets, family, rent/mortgage, food, or whatever their needs are. Also remember that to get a tax refund, you have to put into taxes. Unemployment, disability, welfare, and other programs for people in desperate need are not taxed. All the more reason I feel that a tax-break on animal medical costs to “help the low income” is barking up the wrong tree. Lets fix the problem where the problem is, not add another problem to the pool!
And of course anything to keep the government disinterested in my pets, the better. With so many anti-pet, anti-breeding, and animal number limit laws going up already, THIS type of legislation, will only cause the government to cut back on pet numbers even harder (They want to keep tax money, not give it away), punishing the responsible owners for having pets, and providing medical care for those pets. Why give them a solid reason do to exactly what the Animal Rights extremists are going for- taking animals out of the homes. Look at who all is backing this movement. The Animal Rightists, and the ‘guardianship’ movement. Seriously, not something I want in my country! I’ll spend that $3500 and never see it again, if it means that I can keep my pets in my life, and in hopes that my daughter can continue to enjoy animals in the household, and her kids, and more generations. It’s a harsh time for animals, with so many groups aggressively out to end the keeping of pets. We need to keep any foothold we can, not pass it off, with this shiny promise promoted by the very people out to get us. Remember the story of the dog and the bone? Lets not drop our bone in the water folks!
Of course not everyone will agree with me on this stance, but this is my opinion on this topic, and other programs pushed by animal rights groups to get more pet regulation in action. Please, research before you support moves like this. They may look fluffy, shiny, and full of rainbows, and daisies, but they’re not always in the best interest long run, esp not when you give more power to the very people who wish to end the very thing that you’re trying to keep!