Tax relief for pet owners

[LassinSurrey]

Many pet owners are struggling with the increasing costs of pet food and vets bill. The physical and mental benefits of pet ownership for adults and children are well documented.

Many pet owners are resorting to abandoning their beloved pets. It is not fair.

Please join us to ask government to provide tax relief for pet owners.

Thank you

www.change.org/taxreliefforpetowners

Ive spent over £2000 at the vets in the past 30 days. Its money well spent for my baby. I chose to get pets so why would i expect to government to pay for my vet bills. You need to take personal responsibility. What a ridiculous op.

I don’t think I tax relief is the answer. It’s private equity buying up Vet practices and price gouging pet owners. Should regulate PE!

So the taxpayer can help people keep horses and dogs and cats?

Nice try, but it's not going to be taken on by any government.

Pets cost a lot now, and if one cannot afford them, don't get them.

Eh? That is a bit cheeky. Wrong priorities there I'm afraid.

I would rather the government invest in schemes that promote neutering.

I used to follow some animal rescue pages on Facebook, but the constant demands for money were just too much, it was never ending.
Obviously not all rescues are like this, and some have registered charity status.

No, I can’t get behind this at all (except perhaps for genuine support dogs- Guide dogs for the blind for example). Apart from that, no. Pets are a luxury- it should be expensive to own a pet- good quality food, vet treatment and insurance etc are all essential if an owner wants to provide a healthy life for their animal who has no choice or agency in how to manage their own health.

Yes, pets are good for some people’s mental health. So are holidays and spa breaks but sadly many people also can’t afford those.

I am lucky to have pets and to be able to afford to look after them properly. I’m sad for those who have to give up their loved pets, but I’m sadder for those who have to give up putting the heating on in winter in order to afford food.

THIS!
Stop backyard breeding for easy money.
The entire breeding of animals for money or because one can't be bothered to spay and neuter cats and dogs has got quite out of hand.

RSPCA and other charities have been banging on about this for decades.

Laughing at the comments of "pets are a lifestyle choice" and "pets are not essential". Well children are also a lifestyle choice and not really essential either and yet parents get enough money given to them.

But that money is for the benefit of the children rather than the parents.

I'm afraid I will always prioritise taxpayer spending for human beings over cats, dogs and bunny rabbits.

Children are essential- as a nation we need the next crop of workers!

Cats, not so useful.

Surely children are needed to provide the next generation of cat servants?

No, we need to be making dog ownership more expensive.

No.

Nope. And I say that as a two dog owner paying through the nose for medication.
I chose to have them in my life, I will do the best for them until they die. I have made adjustments to my lifestyle and finances to accommodate them. They are worth every penny to me, but there are SO many more deserving causes to give tax relief to.
And, just for clarity, I am a pensioner who has just had wfa removed and am living on very little - I don't have an endless pot of money.

I kind of agree, but responsible dog ownership is expensive. Well, it is to me🙂
My two cost me a bomb, worth it to me, but would be shocking to a non pet owner looking in.
I spend £300+ pm on mine, so not a cheap hobby🤣

Absolutely no way. Pets are luxuries and fewer people should have them.

Well once dogs start working and paying tax after they’ve grown up then maybe we can subsidise their early years too.

I have a dog and we carefully considered the finances of insurance, kennels etc on our financial spreadsheet before committing.

I know dog owners who clearly didn’t as they complain about vet bills and grooming costs. One fellow owner has a cockapoo that hasn’t been groomed in months then got angry when challenged about it in this heat. It’s cruel to the dog.

But giving those people money is rewarding poor financial planning.

This is a ridiculous idea.

Campaign for the removal of VAT on veterinary treatment and medication instead.

Are you serious?

Sorry but this is ridiculous. I have had animals all my life, horses, dogs, cats and a selection of small scurrying jobs when the kids were small.

This was my decision, and my responsibility. Yes it impacted my life financially, especially the horses, but no way would I expect to be subsidised by the tax payer for my lifestyle choices.

I love my animals, but they are not the same as children, there is no collective responsibility, it begins and ends with the owner.

Actually ensuring a future population IS essential.
As a pet owner of course pets are a lifestyle choice. Pets are also essential if you have support needs, and I assume you get help if you have a registered support animal. Other than that, go to the PDSA if you can't afford to look after the pet you have. Take some responsibility and remember that purchasing an animal is the cheap part.

Disagree (pet owner for nearly 30 years).

As pps have said, pets are a lifestyle choice, you shouldn't get them if you can't afford one.

Costs of administering would be huge - how would you prove you owned a pet?

I would support for assistance animals, but only if there was a way of checking they are official, Guide Dogs for example, and not just a pet that can be conveniently rebranded as an 'emotional support hamster' to exploit the tax break.

What a shame you didn't post this in AIBU - it would be a universal 100% YABU!

I love my pets, unconditionally. But having them is a choice I made.

It's juvenile and risible to expect the government to spend money on any of us for our choices.