Every pet owner knows that our four-legged family members can be expensive to care for, especially when it comes to vet bills. While we know that our companions are worth the cost, paying for medical treatments can still be a burden, especially when an unexpected or emergency situation comes up. There are many pet parents who’ve even had to opt for euthanasia over expensive treatments when dire circumstances arise, with money playing a big role in making the heartbreaking decision.
In California, an assemblyman, with two dogs and two cats of his own, is trying to lighten the load when it comes to residents footing their vet bills. The Sacramento Bee reports:
Devon Mathis, R-Visalia, introduced Assembly Bill 942 on Thursday to give pet owners a break on vaccinations, check-ups, surgeries, x-rays, prescriptions and other medical-related expenses for their four-legged friends. The tax credit is limited to healthcare costs for dogs and cats.
If the bill passes, the law will allow an “income tax credit that allows Californians to write off half the money they spend on vet costs up to $2,000 per year,” explains the site.
Most pet parents will attest to the fact that annual vet visits, including vaccinations, cost a couple hundred dollars (or more), and when it comes to surgeries and additional treatments, medical bills can skyrocket into the thousands. According to the American Pet Products Association (APPA), dog and cat owners spent almost $16 billion on vet care alone in 2015.
If the bill passes, Mathis hopes that money will hold less weight when it comes to making difficult decisions regarding families and the health of their pets.
“What if you don’t have to put them down?” Mathis told The Sacramento Bee. “This is an incentive to do the surgery and keep them in the family.”
It’s possible that the tax credit may also encourage more people to adopt cat and canine companions.
“It helps everyone across the state, every family and every pet lover out there,” the assemblyman added in the story.
Do you think this should become a law and should be adopted by all states? Tell us in the comments below!
(h/t: The Sacramento Bee )
