You can read the full text of the bill here.  It is brilliantly written.   Only one page long, in simple plain English language, it is readable by anyone with an elementary education, no law degree or day or two of study by experts is required. 

Should the bill pass, a milestone for horses, and their beneficial relationship with people, would be achieved.  This bill is especially significant to anyone who provides therapeutic, educational, organizational team building, life skills coaching,  visiting nursing homes, or other services to the public with horses.  Even if those horses do not meet the definition of a “pet” under the bill, because they are engaged in a for-profit or non-profit business enterprise, it paves the way for the future acceptance and support of equine-assisted activities by individual referrers, private companies, and government agencies.

This is because its main justification is:

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.