Gambit's Pets, winter 2017

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G A M B I T ’ S PETS • W I N T E R 2 0 1 7

Pets taxes AND

Uncle Sam-approved animalrelated tax deductions B Y K AT H E R I N E M . J O H N S O N

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» Hobby animals You paint and sell pictures of your gorgeously green pet iguana. You enter your tabby or your terrier in an animal show and you take home a cash prize for prettiest pet.

According to the IRS, these are hobbies, and you should claim that money as income on your tax return. However, you also can claim the expenses associated with your hobby, such as paints and canvases, grooming, travel and entry fees, to offset that income.

“With a hobby, you get to deduct your expenses, but (only) to the extent that you receive income from it,” Geeck says. A hobby can’t result in a financial loss on your return.

» Business animals Working-class animals often fetch a business deduction, and the enterprise can generate a loss if it’s a legitimate business.

For example, if you own a hunting lodge that supplies trained tracking and retrieving dogs and those dogs are cared for and live on the property year-round, it’s likely the IRS will consider that a business. If you own a Labrador retriever that you loan out to your uncle for hunting once in a while, that’s a hobby, and you should claim deductions accordingly.

There are tax deductions for the care (but not the purchase) of animals that help you conduct business. The costs of keeping or attracting cats to control rodents and pests on a commercial farm could be a business deduction, as long as the cats stay on the premises (and you’re not just bringing your pet Persian from home).

Guard dogs on business property are another possible de-

duction, but there are caveats.

If the dog doesn’t permanently reside on the property or you can’t document how much time the dog spends working, you could run into tax trouble.

“If you’re leasing a guard dog from a security company, that’s a pretty clear deduction,” Geeck says. “If you just happen to have a dog that’s … protecting your personal assets and not a business, it’s not deductible.”

Also, if your business is dogs or cats — say, a pet walking or grooming service — animal-related expenses such as leashes, shampoos and even poop bags are deductible.

» Service animals IRS Publication 502 says taxpayers can include in medical expenses the costs of buying, training and maintaining a guide dog or other service animal to assist a visually impaired or hearing disabled person, or a person with other physical disabilities. This includes costs such as food, grooming and veterinary care. Obtaining a letter from a physician that shows the medical necessity of a service animal will help back up the claim come tax time.

» Charitable deductions Pet adoption fees are not deductible, but any money donated in excess of that fee can be deducted as a charitable donation, as long as the organization is recognized by the IRS as a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit. Be sure to request a receipt that clearly distinguishes between the adoption costs and the donation.

Expenses incurred while fostering or rehabilitating an animal are eligible for a deduc-

tion, as long as it’s for a recognized nonprofit. The 2011 Van Dusen vs. Commissioner ruling in the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals held that a woman’s charitable deduction on her tax return for the care of nearly 80 (eighty!) cats in her home was a valid claim, since it was on behalf of a recognized nonprofit. While some animal charities wouldn’t find these conditions sanitary or appropriate, legally, it’s a legitimate deduction.

» Don’t mess with the IRS …

“If you want to make sure that something qualifies (as a deduction),” Geeck says, “the best thing to do is to ask your accountant.” He says taking an unreasonable stance with the IRS or filing a false claim — even unknowingly — can result in underpayment of taxes and huge fines.

“I’ve seen people try to claim veterinary bills as medical expenses on their taxes,” he says.

“I’ve seen people try to take unreasonable positions on their taxes, like, ‘My Chihuahua is my guard dog because it makes a lot of noise and it’s protecting my home,’ and try to claim that as a business deduction.”

The fine for inaccurate returns is $5,000, plus underpayment and inaccuracy penalties (anywhere from 20 to 75 percent of the corrected tax amount) and interest accrued for adjustments. That fine can increase to $10,000 based on the severity of the return’s inaccuracy, in addition to the other penalties.

“Intentional disregard for the law can be extremely expensive,” Geeck says. “It can cost you tens of thousands of dollars, or even include criminal charges. Just don’t do it.”

G A M B I T ’ S PETS • W I N T E R 2 0 1 7

eeing more “I Love my Cat/Dog/Ferret” bumper stickers on the road lately? It’s not your imagination.

According to the 2017-2018 National Pet Owners Survey conducted by the American Pet Products Association, 68 percent of U.S. households, or about 85 million families, own a pet. In contrast, the 2012 United States Census reported fewer than 34 million families living with children under age 18 in the household. Yet, there are few legal statutes that give our furry friends the same protections and benefits reserved for the taxpaying parents of human children.

In 2009, Michigan State Representative Thaddeus McCotter proposed a bill called the “Humanity and Pets Partnered Through the Years” (or HAPPY) Act that would allow tax deductions for pets. The annual deduction would cover up to $3,500 of qualified pet care expenses. Despite endorsements by groups such as the American Veterinary Medical Association, McCotter’s legislation went nowhere, but if you’re a pet owner who’s spent thousands of dollars for emergency surgery for your beloved beastie, you might think he was on to something.

“The bad news is that the [Internal Revenue Service] says pets are property, not people,” says Joe Geeck, certified public accountant at Van Dam & Geeck. You can’t claim animals as dependents or collect the child care tax credit.

Geeck says one of the few deductions available to pet owners is for moving costs associated with crating and shipping Fido or Fifi to a new home — if the move is work-related. Since you can deduct the cost of relocating your furniture, cookware and ceramic hippo collection, you also can deduct the expenses of moving your pet.

Geeck says there are a few classes of animals.

“There are pets, or companion animals, for which typically there aren’t any deductions,” he says. “There are animals used in hobbies, and animals used for business or working-class pets, such as hunting dogs or horses that draw carriages. And there’s a middle category of pets used for medical reasons.” There are some eligible deductions for furbutts with day jobs, but the value of those animals depreciates over time, as with any business asset.

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G A M B I T ’ S PETS • W I N T E R 2 0 1 7

Going mobile Nine businesses offering at-home pet care

BY K A N DAC E P OW E R G R AV E S & K AT H E R I N E M . J O H N S O N

Doskey Mobile Veterinary Care (504) 812-5986; www.doskeymobilevetcare.com Dr. Pamela Doskey takes her veterinary show on the road to treat dogs, cats, ferrets, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters and other small pets in their homes. Doskey offers a full range of medical treatments, checkups, hospice and euthanasia services.

Fur de Leash (504) 717-1569; www.furdeleash.com Delgado Community College veterinary technician graduate Brandi Cooper helms this in-home pet grooming service, which offers bathing, hair styling, nail clipping and grinding, tooth brushing, ear cleaning and gland expressing — and she’ll even add some color to your pet’s fur on request. Currently, Cooper sets up her grooming area inside a pet’s home, but plans to have a mobile trailer soon.

Fur De Lis Mobile Veterinary Services (504) 669-7183; www.furdelismobilevet.com Dr. Ashley K. Tahir’s veterinary house call service provides comprehensive health exams, wellness checkups, immunizations, dental screenings, microchipping and diagnostic tests for heartworm, feline leukemia, allergies and more. It also offers in-home hospice care and euthanasia. The unit serves pets in Orleans, Jefferson, Plaquemines, St. Bernard and St. Charles parishes.

K9 Second Line (504) 457-8204; www.k9secondline.com The pet sitting and dog walking service provides in-home care for dogs, cats, birds and other pets. Cat care includes cleaning

Muddy Paws Mobile Pet Grooming (504) 235-3340; www.muddypawsmobile.com The company has two mobile grooming salons featuring a full menu of services for dogs and cats, including bathing, hair trim or shave, removing mats from the coat, sanitary clips, nail trimming and polishing, ear cleaning, gland expression, tooth brushing and flea prevention. The service specializes in difficult dogs, as well as larger breeds and those with ambulatory difficulties.

Paws on Wheels (504) 400-8184; www.facebook.com/pawsonwheelsmobile The dog groomer brings a trickedout van to dogs’ homes and offers a hydro-surge aromatherapy bath, blow drying and styling, nail clipping, ear cleaning, gland expression and sanitary clipping.

The service is for dogs 30 pounds or less. The company serves dogs in Metairie, Kenner and parts of New Orleans.

TLC Mobile Pet Grooming (504) 460-8354 The grooming menu for cats and dogs includes bathing, hair clipping and styling, dematting, nail clipping and more. The business also offers pet sitting services and dog training.

Whiskers on Wheels (877) 941-7537; www.whiskersonwheels.net The mobile dog grooming salon comes to pets’ homes and offers baths, ear cleanings, nail trims, brushing, hair clipping and styling — all inside a van. The business also offers nail grinding, gland expression, teeth cleaning, shaving and dematting. The staff is accustomed to working with pets of all ages and in all medical conditions.

G A M B I T ’ S PETS • W I N T E R 2 0 1 7

K-9 Kaboose Mobile Dog Grooming (504) 874-0100; www.k9kaboose.com Owner/pet stylist Jake Drago brings a customized trailer to pets’ homes for one-on-one grooming treatments including bathing, styling, sanitary trims, nail clipping, ear cleaning, tooth brushing, hair conditioning and de-shedding treatments and more.

the litter box, and care for all pets includes bathing, feeding and dispensing medication. Dogs are walked in groups of no more than three. A pet taxi service is available for transporting animals to appointments. The service area comprises the New Orleans east bank, Metairie, Harahan and Kenner.

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S E V E N T E E N

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Do’s and don’ts for traveling with your pet

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raveling alone as a human can be a nightmare. Traveling with a companion — or several — can be worse. Imagine what it’s like for your pet, who is not free to roam the cabin of a plane, ask for a sick bag or tell the person sitting above them to cut out whatever annoying thing they’re doing.

Save yourself and your pets headaches, anxiety and potential illnesses with these tips for preparing for your pet’s trip as soon as you book your flight or make a plan to hit the road.

BOOK A DIRECT FLIGHT.

The ASPCA recommends booking the shortest travel day possible to avoid keeping your pets stressed for too long — whether checked onboard and in your care or in the cargo hold where they are subject to rough weather, baggage handlers’ mishandling and long layovers. “As soon as you know, the better off you’ll be,” says Dr. Rachelle Biondolillo with Prytania Veterinary Hospital (4907 Prytania St., 504-8992828, www.prytaniavet.com).

TALK TO YOUR VET.

Your destination and airline may require health certificates before your pets can travel.

Make an appointment with your vet to ensure your pet is up to date on vaccinations and any other requirements, particularly if you’re traveling outside the U.S. This also is a good opportunity to talk about “gentle anxiety” medications to help stressed pets have a more comfortable flight, Biondolillo says. Airlines “generally frown upon” overly sedated animals on flights, so your pet shouldn’t be “too drunk” to drink water.

TALK TO YOUR AIRLINE AND PREPARE YOUR CRATE.

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If your pet does well in a car ride around the block or in the neighborhood (or on regular trips to the vet or kennel), it likely won’t have trouble aboard a plane. “It’s good to just kennel them and let them get comfortable in a kennel,” Biondolillo says. “Being in a cabin is probably similar to being in the car.”

STOCK UP ON FOOD AND WATER.

Bring your pet’s regular food and ensure it has access to water on the plane. Bring treats, but don’t overfeed before the flight. “Don’t let them eat a huge breakfast,” Biondolillo says. “If they have a big meal, they might throw it up or have a bowel movement.”

Instead, feed them a “light snack” and give them “ample opportunity to do their business,” including one more walk before takeoff if possible, Biondolillo says.

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SAFETY FIRST.

If you’re hitting the road with your pet, ensure they’re as strapped-in and safe as anyone else in the car. Biondolillo has heard “horror stories” about pets hurt by airbags and sudden stops, and unrestrained animals bolting when the door opens after a long ride and running away.

If your pet isn’t crated, there are seatbelt-friendly harnesses for cats and dogs and seat-separating nets and webbing for excited animals that are trying to get into the driver’s seat. Your pet might be more comfortable in its kennel — some animals might be too stressed about going outside and see their carrier as its own respite from the road, Biondolillo says.

But as you prepare your travel kit with food, water, leashes, bowls, plastic bags, medication, toys and other must-haves, take time to know your stops and “know where the bathroom breaks are,” Biondolillo says.

G A M B I T ’ S PETS • W I N T E R 2 0 1 7

Your airline likely will require a kennel be stored under the seat in front of you unless it is checked into cargo. Make sure your crate is approved by the airline — check the kennel guidelines on your airline’s website.

Generally, a crate should be well-ventilated, large enough for an animal to stand, sit, turn and lie down, and have all your contact information somewhere accessible on its exterior. It should also be lined with a towel or something soft in case your pet has an accident (and bring a trash bag). “Being prepared is better than just letting them sit there,” Biondolillo says.

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P R O M O T I O N

PRESENTS

THE 2017

Holiday

PET PHOTO CONTEST WINNER

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Rougarou, Ozzy and Sophie

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PHOTO SUBMITTED BY: CHERYL

G A M B I T ’ S PETS • W I N T E R 2 0 1 7

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1: Nelly; Photo submitted by: Jessica Gorman and Alexandra Zuniga 2: Sherlock Bones; Photo submitted by: Britt and Tory McPhail 3: Chuck Norris; Photo submitted by: Ashleigh Castro 4: Maggie; Photo submitted by: Amy Frechette 5: Chunck; Photo submitted by: Ana Gallardo 6: Lola; Photo submitted by: Brooke Hidalgo

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The

luxurious and the low-key

Pet gift ideas for all wallets

HIDE AND SEEK

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HI

This 5-foot-tall literal “cat tree” comes with an artificial grass base, silk leaves and plenty of hiding perches behind the foliage. $239.99 from Catsplay, www.catsplay.com

e all want the best for Fido or Fluffy (or, let’s be honest, Brees and Beignet).

This gift guide offers options for pet parents of all pocketbooks, be it broke as a joke or rolling with a Christmas bonus.

PENTHOUSE CONDOS

LO This Amazon shipping box is a budget-friendly hideaway for felines. Free, probably in your closet now

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Cats enjoy pieda-terre living as much as their owners do.

Pamper them with this 8-foottall extravaganza

by Kitty Condos, available in five shades. $1,399 at Wayfair, www. wayfair.com

P H OTO B Y C R E AT I V E C O M M O N S / STEPH EN WOO DS

SUPER SLEEPERS

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The Animals Matter Mod Fur Nest Pet Bed has a faux-fur topand microsuede bottom and is stuffed with upholstery-grade fiberfill for a restful night or daytime nap. $199-$289 at Cuddledown, www.cuddledown.com

gone to sleep heaven with this old blanket that smells like you. Perfect for tucking in a carrier or putting on the floor next to your bed. Free, possibly already colonized and claimed by your pet

G A M B I T ’ S PETS • W I N T E R 2 0 1 7

P H OTO B Y C R E AT I V E C O M M O N S / S A R A H KO L B -W I L L I A M S / W W W. KO L B W I L L I A M S . C O M

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Turn the top of your refrigerator into a penthouse fit for a feline with the old cushion on your office chair, the one you’ve been meaning to replace for a while now. Free, but you’re on the hook to get a new cushion for yourself PHOTO BY CRE ATIVE COM MONS/ROB ERT COUSE- BAKER

LO Your pet will think he or she has