Tax Me If You Can!
It's that time of year again; tax season. I can hear the moans and groans from here. However, I do have some good news for some tax paying dog owners. You may be eligible for certain dog tax deductions. If your dog falls under one of the following categories, you'll want to check with your accountant to see if you qualify. The categories are:
1. Working dogs: Including seeing eye dogs, medical alert dogs, service dogs, etc.
2. Therapy dogs: They're not considered a working dog, but you might be able to write off mileage driven to sessions as a charitable contribution.
3. Performance/Show Dogs: If you and your dog participate in performances and/or shows, check with your accountant to see if you qualify.
4. Dog-related Business: Breeders, dog walkers, trainers, etc. may be able to deduct business-related expenses.
5. Fostered or Adopted Dogs: Any necessary expenses that are not reimbursed when fostering a dog should qualify.
6. Moving: Expenses incurred when moving your pet might be deductible.
If you think that there's a chance that you qualify for any of these, talk with your accountant to be sure that you're correct and you do it right. With any luck, reading this will save you money.
Tip of the Month
Unfortunately, not all dogs fetch, including ones that have the word retriever in their breed name, for example, Golden Retriever. We had a Labrador Retriever mix that would watch me throw the ball, chase it, stop in front of it for a split second, and then go on and do her own thing. She was not inclined to fetch. However, if you really want to play fetch with your dog, there is something you can use to help a disinclined dog to learn to fetch. Take a tennis ball and carefully (don't cut yourself!) puncture it. You want a hole big enough to stuff a few of your dog's favorite treats in there. By the way, the more aromatic (or pungent) the treat, the easier it will be to catch your dog's attention. Hot dog pieces or small chunks of cooked meatball work very well. Once the treats are safely inside the tennis ball, present it to your dog so he/she can smell the treats. Then toss the ball a few feet from the dog while encouraging him/her to get it and bring it back to you. You can act excited, pat your legs, and/or run from the dog to entice him/her to bring the ball to you. When the dog does, you will pull the treats out of the ball and give them to your dog. This will teach him/her to bring the tennis ball to you for the reward. A word of advice; put the punctured tennis ball away when you are not actively using it with the dog; otherwise you may find that because of the pungent smell, the dog has chewed it up, looking for the treats that are no longer there.
Breed Spotlight
The first time I ever saw a Chow Chow was in August of 1987 in Venice Beach. I wasn't even sure what I was looking at; I just knew that it was a dog that looked like a little lion. I was in love. Since then, I've worked with a lot of Chows in grooming and training. Many people who work with Chows will tell you to be careful as they really only bond to their family. Chow Chows are said to be aloof, detached, and indifferent, and depending on the dog, they can turn defensive quickly. Chows must be socialized early, trained, and require grooming. Possible health concerns for Chows include heat sensitivity, hip dysplasia, knee problems, and cancer. If you're looking for a dog that will be sociable with everyone, the Chow Chow is probably not for you, but if you're looking for a dog that will bond with you, the Chow might be a good option.
Quote of the Month
"No matter how many years we get with our dogs, it's never long enough." Anonymous
