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

Can't afford a pet = don't have one

I am sorry OP but don't be ridiculous

Fat L is currently taking up a quarter of my coffee table. I should charge him rent towards his flea treatment and jabs. Oh.

Don't be so silly.

Do you say that about children?

Maybe the cats can should be able to claim tax relief for owning you 😂

🙄

Pets are not essential

Pleasant. You can just scroll if not interested.

MN is renowned for pet hating OP. Vet bills in the U.K. are one of the highest in the world because of the greedy hedge fund companies who own them.

I’ll sign for you.

MN is not known for pet hating. It’s known for crazed attachment to cats and dogs.

I remember the infamous thread on which posters said they’d save a dog rather than a child from a burning building.

What kind of tax relief? What would that look like? How would it be funded?
I have four pets. I would not have them if I couldn't afford them. Tax relief for pets? Ridiculous.
By the way many studies show taking care of house plants to be very beneficial for elderly, increases productivity and well being in offices, as well as relieving anxiety in children. How about tax relief for plant owners?

It is widely known for dog hating. You must be new.

Just for that, I got DH to sign it too. 🤣

@mondaytosunday A plant isn’t a sentient being. You can’t take a plant for a walk can you… here’s my emotional support plant. Fuck sake.

No, but I agree with the 2 child cap, only have the kids you can afford.

Why is that funny? You’ve now wasted both your time and your husband’s.

No. I’m sorry op, but pets aren’t essential. Buying the latest Mulberry bag would probably be good for my mental health but I wouldn’t expect a discount on that.

I wouldn’t have been doing anything else at that time. I mean here you are, wasting your time replying to me 🤣

Cake is good for my mental health.

I choose to eat it.

I do not expect tax relief on cake, in fact I willingly pay VAT on my cake, along with all other luxury foods, every time I choose to buy them.

Tax relief on pets? Why not get money back for fancy cars, or luxury holidays?

Cake is zero-rated for VAT.

Ok, chocolate digestives then. The idea is the same though.

I support the welfare state. Having a safety net to ensure everyone has a basic standard of living and access to healthcare is the mark of a civilised society.

However there seems to be a growing expectance that there should be handouts and help for everything, and I think it has got a lot worse since Covid and the furlough scheme.

A welfare state can only function if everyone that is able to provide for themselves does, and foes so to the maximum extent of their capabilities. Wanting to take something back out of the system, through tax breaks or direct handouts, for every single thing will break the whole system.

Tax breaks for a pet that you have chosen to take on is frankly taking the piss out of the concept.

The only exception I can think of is genuine service animals, properly trained ones that perform specific tasks and duties. If you have a need for a service animal, and have a very low income, yes I would support assistance towards the costs of the anti al, in much the same way I support helping access to any medical aid.

As with children, if you can’t afford them then don’t have them.

No one should receive financial incentive to extend themselves beyond their means.

How do you propose this ridiculous tax relief is going to work?

People should think about what pets they can afford. Often it's those with less money who have the biggest dogs, then wonder why food/medication is so expensive.

No, not really. You enjoy VAT exempt cake, which you claim, - tongue in cheek - is good for your mental health.

Why do you disagree that pet food should be VAT exempt just as cake is? Pets are good for many people's mental health, in a far, far more meaningful way than cake. No tongue in cheek.

Please could you clarify? I don't have kids so I don't fully understand how the welfare system subsidising them works.

But I gather, if you have two kids and you claim 'benefits', the taxpayer subsidises you, but if you have three or more, you don't get any more taxpayers' money?

I further gather that 250,000 children live in poverty because of the 2 child cap.

And you agree with this?

And you also think that lonely pensioners with a dog or cat as their only companion should have to fork out an extra 20% VAT to feed their only companion and lifeline? And if they can't afford it then too bad, get rid of the pet?

Well, wow.