Why
Libby
Posta
Tax Credit for Adopting Companion Animals?
The members of the NYS Animal Protection Federation support providing a $100 tax
credit for any New York State taxpayer for adopting a dog, cat or other household pet
from one of the state’s humane societies, SPCAs or an animal shelter, either nonprofit or municipal.
The tax credit will be dependent on the animal’s owner showing proof of spay or
neutering—one of the hallmarks of professional animal shelter standards.
In 2014, of the 83 organizations throughout New York that provided data to PetPoint,
one of the animal management systems available to shelters, 18,883 dogs and
29,042 cats were adopted. This would amount to a savings of close to $5M for
taxpayers who adopt from these organizations.
NYSAPF is the voice of
New York’s humane
societies, SPCAs, nonprofit and municipal
animal shelters as well
as animal welfare
organizations which
focus on homeless
animals.
These animals are now out of a shelter—that cared for and nurtured the animal
making sure it was ready for adoption—and in loving homes where the dogs and/or
cats are now “part of the family.”
Creating this tax credit will give our members—the state’s humane societies, SPCAs
and municipal animal shelters—additional opportunities to educate their communities
on the benefits of adopting a shelter dog or cat. Making this humane choice is not
only good for the dogs and cats but also good for the people who adopt. Having a
companion animal enhances one’s quality of life and, at times, can be a life saver.
There are numerous stories of how rescued dogs have saved lives.
Libby Post
Executive Director
[email protected]
In Albany a few years back, someone nailed three pit bull puppies to the railroad
tracks. A Good Samaritan in the neighborhood found them, called the police and they
were taken to the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society in Menands. Two of the puppies
survived. They were named Hudson and Pearl. The community rallied around these
puppies and raised the funds needed to create a prosthetic device for Hudson who
lost a foot in the ordeal.
Now Hudson is a happy, healthy, therapy dog who visits local nursing homes and
hospitals and makes life better for everyone he meets. Hudson is an inspiration. If it
wasn’t for the local humane society, he wouldn’t have made it.
Hudson, the rescued therapy
dog, who makes life better for
everyone he meets.
When walking through any shelter, the kennels and cages are full of puppies and
dogs or kittens and cats who are there for any number of reasons. These loving
animals are just in search of a living, forever home.
The simple passage and signing of this bill will provide a spotlight for the hundreds of
thousands of dogs and cats that populate New York’s shelters each year. Nationally,
the numbers are even greater with an estimated six to eight million dogs and cats
cared for annually.
Increasing adoptions through this tax credit means decreasing the euthanasia rates
of animals in shelters. New York’s shelters work hard to keep their rates as low as
possible but there are times when overcrowding leaves little alternative.
The tax credit will go a long way in enhancing the quality of life of animals in humane
societies, SPCAs and municipal shelters by giving potential adoptees even more of a
reason to adopt and provide a forever home for a loving dog or cat.