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Families all over the country have been forced to give up their pets because of financial hardship. H.R. 3501, known as the HAPPY Act, would help Americans provide their pets with the medical attention and quality of life they deserve by making up to $3,500 of qualifying pet care expenses, including veterinary care costs, tax-deductible. This way, pets get to remain in their loving homes and don't wind up on the streets or in the already overburdened shelter system.

Ask U.S. Office Majority Leader Steny Hoyer to urge Congress to support the HAPPY Act, H.R. 3501! Sign the petition and tell a friend.

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U.S. Representative Thaddeus McCotter has introduced the Humanity and Pets Partnered Through the Years ("HAPPY") Act, legislation to allow individuals to claim tax deductions for qualified pet care expenses. This means that when you prepare your income taxes, money you spent on pet care that year would count as non-taxable income -- and you could deduct up to $3,500 per year!

We all want to give our animal companions the best care we possibly can, but it seems that pet care costs are always on the rise -- and these days, it's harder than ever to stretch the family budget. That's why the ASPCA supports H.R. 3501, which would amend U.S. tax code to allow qualifying pet care expenses, including veterinary care, to be tax-deductible.

Please help us support the HAPPY Act, H.R. 3501! Sign the petition below and tell a friend.

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Dear Office Majority Leader Steny Hoyer,

As a concerned animal advocate, I am writing to urge you to support and cosponsor H.R. 3501, the Humanity and Pets Partnered Through the Years ("HAPPY") Act. This important legislation would allow an annual tax deduction of up to $3,500, per taxpayer, for qualified pet care expenses. "Qualified pet care expenses" include veterinary care costs for individuals who care for legally owned, domesticated live animals.

Pet care can be expensive -- and in these trying economic times, families all over the country have been forced to give up their pets because of financial hardship. The HAPPY Act is important because it would help Americans provide their pets with the medical attention and quality of life they deserve, while also ensuring that more pets get to remain in their loving homes and don't wind up on the streets or in the already overburdened shelter system.

I respectfully urge you to support the HAPPY Act, H.R. 3501. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Signatures

Feb 9, 2010 Jan Odom

Feb 9, 2010 Jenny Cassell

Feb 9, 2010 Cathy Carter

Feb 9, 2010 (Name not displayed)

Feb 9, 2010 Tracey Bynum

Feb 9, 2010 kelly kaltenbach

Feb 9, 2010 (Name not displayed)

Feb 9, 2010 Jessica Fyles Our pets are members of the family. By enabling families with pets to stay together, it would help relieve the financial burdens of shelters and improve and maintain the quality of life for both pets and humans alike.

Feb 9, 2010 Steve Case

Feb 9, 2010 Rhonda McWhorter

Feb 9, 2010 (Name not displayed)

Feb 9, 2010 Joelle Stuart

Feb 9, 2010 Anne Winters

Feb 9, 2010 Tina Cowley

Feb 9, 2010 (Name not displayed)

Feb 9, 2010 Sharon Elder

Feb 9, 2010 Patty Chappell

Feb 9, 2010 (Name not displayed)

Feb 9, 2010 Janet Budenz I have 7 precious pups, 4 are Rescues. This would be a big help. Thank you.

Feb 9, 2010 Lisa Davis

Feb 9, 2010 (Name not displayed) This makes all the sense in the world - if people with "children" can claim dependents, why can't people who have furry children claim them as well!!!!!!

Feb 9, 2010 Leslie Anderson Pets are such an important part of our lives and we need to be able care for them properly. This tax deduction would help those of us who rescue and care for these animals.

Feb 9, 2010 (Name not displayed)

Feb 9, 2010 Kriston Kissell

Feb 9, 2010 Janet LaRose Please allow deductions for pets. They are children to a lot of people and this will help provide better care for them.

Feb 9, 2010 Fay Payton The elderly are at particular risk for depression. Pets are known to hel with this.

Feb 9, 2010 Melanie Piper

Feb 9, 2010 (Name not displayed) This would be great. My husband and I have 13 rescued cats in our house. Five of those are a family of rescued ferals. This would of helped when we were getting them fixed and shots done every year.

Feb 9, 2010 Barbara Feldman

Feb 9, 2010 Diane Pellegrini

Feb 9, 2010 (Name not displayed) Pets are family too! Support their needs!

Feb 9, 2010 Roger Roy Robson

Feb 9, 2010 BARBARA TATE

Feb 9, 2010 Sarah Coulter

Feb 9, 2010 (Name not displayed)

Feb 9, 2010 Sherry Maujean

Feb 9, 2010 Donna Osterhout

Feb 9, 2010 Jennie Logner These are members of our families, in my case, my children. To have them not in my life, would be devestating! Please help us keep our babies!

Feb 9, 2010 Pamela Pahnke I don't have children but take good care of my dogs as though they were children!

Feb 9, 2010 Teri Tirone As an owner of a rescued dog, I know of all the expense first hand. This would be a great incentive for pet owners. Thank you for your support.

Feb 9, 2010 (Name not displayed)

Feb 9, 2010 marie campanali so important to do. My dog cost me $4,000 and, sadly, didn't make it.

Feb 9, 2010 Claudia Alacan If people cannot maintain their animals due to economic hardship, they then become a burden of the city and on the already overworked private shelters.

Feb 9, 2010 Stacey Swan

Feb 9, 2010 Leslie Johnson thanks, this is very important to me & many pet owners. These are our children & deserve recognition just like kids do.

Feb 9, 2010 (Name not displayed)

Feb 9, 2010 pam keller

Feb 9, 2010 Deborah Hudson

Feb 9, 2010 Mark Drexler Pets are like children and members of the family, everyone and everything needs help