Relief for Horse Owning Taxpayers Being Considered
Posted by admin in Boarding Stables, Equine Non-Profits, Joyous Horse, Military Veterans and Horses, Political Action, Retirement, Senior Care, Senior Care, Trail Riding on October 19th, 2009

Boys learn valuable life skills while having fun with horse friends.
H.R. 3501: Humanity and Pets Partnered Through the Years (HAPPY) Act was introduced July 31st in the U.S. House of Representatives by Rep. Thaddeus McCotter, R-MI. It would amend the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax deduction, up to $3,500 per year, for pet care expenses (including veterinary care). It has been referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means, the first step in the legislative process.
The Congress finds the following:
(1) According to the 2007-2008 National Pet Owners Survey, 63 percent of United States households own a pet.
(2) The Human-Animal Bond has been shown to have positive effects upon people’s emotional and physical well-being.
This recognition of the value of The Human-Animal Bond to human welfare by the United States Congress is important.
Under the bill’s definition of “pet”, a private family horse qualifies. Tens of thousands of families struggling to provide adequate care to their horses and dogs today would receive relief, provided they still have incomes subject to taxes.
The bill recognizes that an animal may be an integral dependent in a family, and that the cost of its care and veterinary expense can be substantial, but that purchasing that feed, shoeing, and veterinary care contributes to the economy and should be freed of taxation just as food and medical care, preventive and therapeutic, for human family members still is.
If you are involved in Horse Rescue, doubtless this bill, if enacted, could make a huge difference in the number of desperate, loving owners who are turning to you for help in these difficult economic times.
Service animals, since they are not actively engaged in a business, would also qualify as “pets”, a significant help to the finances of persons with special needs whose lives are improved by service dogs and horses.
If you agree, and think this is important, please contact your Representative in Congress and ask him or her to Co-Sponsor the bill. This is the smartest, most direct, simplest, relief to millions of American families, horses, dogs, cats, and other pets anyone has proposed since animal welfare of any kind appeared on the national awareness scene. If passed by the House and Senate, this bill could become law effective January 1, 2010. That would not be one day too soon.
Bonus Benefit to All Taxpayers:
The CDC reports that pet ownership contributes to human health, reducing the need for government (taxpayer) health care services. Specifically, companion animals have been shown to decrease several conditions that plague modern citizens and cost individuals and the government billions of dollars annually to combat, such as high blood pressure, high bad Cholesterol levels. and high Triglyceride levels, as well as feelings of loneliness that lead to numerous expensive physical and social problems.
Promoting the human-animal bond, like promoting healthy recreation and healthy eating habits, can reduce spiraling public and private medical costs. Enabling people to spend their earnings on their animals rather than taxing them to subsidize government booklets and PSAs on healthy lifestyles is a step toward empowering citizens to make wise choices rather than depend on public assistance.
Can the SBA Help Horse Businesses?
Posted by admin in Boarding Stables, Horse Business on August 17th, 2009
Both the USDA via the 2008 Farm Bill, and the SBA via the 2009 Economic Recovery Act (The Stimulus) have millions of dollars set aside to loan. The USDA does so through Farm Credit Bureaus and banks, the SBA does so through banks. But not just any bank works with these types of federally backed loans; you need to find a bank with an experienced loan officer who has a relationship with the federal agencies and is familiar with navigating the mountain of paperwork. Many of those loans are directed to specific segments of society, or to accomplishing policy goals, such as increasing organic products, or keeping rural land in farming or ranching by helping retiring landowners sell property to new farmers or ranchers, instead of developers. Read the rest of this entry »
Honoring Fallen Defenders of the United States of America and the Cause of “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness”
Posted by admin in General Blog Notices, Military Veterans and Horses on May 25th, 2009
Memorial Day, May 25th, 2009
In Loving Memory of Sergeant Joseph Edward Byrnes, Jr., U.S. Army Medical Corps. Bataan Death March, Japanese P.O.W. World War II.
In Loving Memory of Lieutenant Sydney Lee Johnson, Jr. U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps., India, Operation Mars (the Burma Road), China, World War II
In Loving Memory of Sergeant Sidney Lee Johnson, Sr. U.S. Navy, Portland shipyards, World War I.
And their fathers, and their fathers, and their fathers, back to the Revolution that broke the chains of European colonial thinking to send us on a different path than Modern Europe, the Orient, Africa, South America, and Asia.
Our citizen service members have made the ultimate sacrifice for the freedoms and values set forth in our Declaration of Independence, our Constitution and our Bill of Rights. Read the rest of this entry »
Horse Rescue Could Win $1 Million Shelter Makeover - With Your Help
Posted by admin in Equine Non-Profits, General Blog Notices on April 19th, 2009
Zootoo is a pet website that runs a “most deserving shelter” contest annually to award funds for renovations and/or capital improvements. The money is donated by site advertisers and event partners.
This year, a HORSE shelter made it into the Top 10 Finalists. Read the rest of this entry »
Congress Drops the Second Shoe Like an Anvil on Non-Profits and Small Businesses
Posted by admin in Equine Non-Profits, Horse Business, Political Action on March 7th, 2009
Washington Celebrates National Consumer Protection Week!How?
Congress Drops the Second Shoe Like an Anvil on Non-Profits and Small Businesses
The media has focused on a few huge spending initiatives of the new Administration to correct our economic woes resulting from the housing crash and subsequent frozen lending cash flow required by mark-to-market of assets for commercial banks. Those were the T.A.R.P. trillion for the banks, the Stimulus Bill to offset the effects of the banking problem, and the Appropriations Bill for the remainder of the year to fund, with an 8% 450 billion increase, existing government programs.
Well under the radar are two acts of our elected officials in Congress, supported by our new Administration, to eliminate sources of funding for non-profit charitable social service and educational organizations and small businesses. Here is how, and it can affect our equine assisted therapeutic programs for persons with disabilities, our equine rescues and sanctuaries, and our riding academies that offer horsemanship life skills programs to disadvantaged and at risk youth. The newest attack on our freedoms and our economy is the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 that went into effect on February 10th with virtually no mainstream media attention other than a small piece in the Wall Street Journal and Forbes. Read the rest of this entry »




