Pet Tax Deductions, Dog & Cat Info
Deborah gives a safety reminder about drugs and goodies pets find in parks ahead of easter and the chocolate park plague. Service dogs and legitimate therapy dogs’ expenses can be claimed as deductible expenses on your taxes but did you know that a portion of your expenses for a cat who mouses and a dog who protects or even barks can also be claimed? Deborah explains how you can do this for your pets expenses and save some money on taxes. Please send your voice clips, texts or email pet questions to deb@petliferadio.com for answers on air from Deborah Wolfe and her guest experts. Dr Stan Coren Professor of Psychology will be coming back to the show next month so please send Deb your nutty pet questions now. So far we received ‘Is my cat retarded?’ and ‘Does my dog have OCD?’. Keep them coming to deb@petliferadio.com .
Listen to Episode #182 Now:
Transcript:
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Announcer: This is Pet Life Radio.
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Announcer: Let's talk pets.
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Deborah Wolfe: Hello, you're listening to Animal Party.
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Deborah Wolfe: On Pet Life Radio, and that means you're listening to me, Deb Wolfe, because I'm the host of this show.
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Deborah Wolfe: The next few weeks, I will be having guests on.
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Deborah Wolfe: I'll just give you an idea of the lineup coming ahead.
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Deborah Wolfe: We're gonna be talking to a trainer in the first week, a rescuer and trainer, experienced person.
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Deborah Wolfe: And then, so we'll be doing all kinds of dog training topics.
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Deborah Wolfe: And then, a little bit after that, I'll be having someone on that I've tried to have on before.
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Deborah Wolfe: I'm not sure exactly what week, but it's Halo's owner.
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Deborah Wolfe: Halo, the white German shepherd that, as a hobby, finds lost pets.
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Deborah Wolfe: So what a terrific guest that'll be, Karen, Halo's partner on this venture.
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Deborah Wolfe: And I'll also be having Dr.
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Deborah Wolfe: Jory back in the near future to talk about some vet issues and meds that have come out and some new things people are doing in the vet world.
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Deborah Wolfe: So we'll be talking about that.
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Deborah Wolfe: And one of my favorite guests of all time, a guest that when I did the show with him, Pet Life Radio Show years ago, we won Best Pet Radio in America for that show.
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Deborah Wolfe: And it was a show with Darlene Arden, may she rest in peace, and Stan Coren where we talked about cats versus dogs.
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Deborah Wolfe: And we did two shows because there was so much information and they battled it out, cats versus dogs.
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Deborah Wolfe: It's pretty good.
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Deborah Wolfe: So I'm having him back because he's a psychology professor and he's the one to ask if you've got questions like about psychology, what makes your cat's brain work?
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Deborah Wolfe: What makes your dog's brain work?
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Deborah Wolfe: Why do they do what they do?
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Deborah Wolfe: How do they compare to people?
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Deborah Wolfe: Those are the kinds of questions you can send me now.
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Deborah Wolfe: And we'll put a link up right next to this show so that you can do that.
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Deborah Wolfe: And you can send it as a voice clip or an email and I'll read it out or play it and he'll answer your questions.
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Deborah Wolfe: So I've already received a few questions for him.
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Deborah Wolfe: And I hate to use this word, but one of you used it.
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Deborah Wolfe: So I'm gonna reread the email.
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Deborah Wolfe: It says, is my cat retarded?
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Deborah Wolfe: Okay, so we'll be asking him that.
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Deborah Wolfe: Is there such a thing as a retarded cat or dog or puppy or kitten?
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Deborah Wolfe: And how would you know?
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Deborah Wolfe: And what do you do?
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Deborah Wolfe: So what exactly is that all about?
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Deborah Wolfe: So we'll be talking to him about that in the future.
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Deborah Wolfe: Now today, today I'm gonna cover some topics that have been in the news, little bit about the Academy Awards.
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Deborah Wolfe: Did you see the dogs?
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Deborah Wolfe: Oh, I sure did.
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Deborah Wolfe: So we'll talk about that.
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Deborah Wolfe: And I'm gonna give you some tax tips.
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Deborah Wolfe: That's right.
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Deborah Wolfe: Do you think you could claim your dogs or cat expenses as deductions with your taxes?
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Deborah Wolfe: Well, you might be able to.
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Deborah Wolfe: So stay tuned to Animal Party on Pet Life Radio and find out.
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Announcer: Take a bite out of your competition.
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Announcer: Advertise your business with an ad in Pet Life Radio podcasts and radio shows.
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Announcer: There is no other pet-related media that is as large and reaches more pet parents and pet lovers than Pet Life Radio.
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Announcer: With over 7 million monthly listeners, Pet Life Radio podcasts are available on all major podcast platforms, and our live radio stream goes out to over 250 million subscribers on iHeart Radio, Audacy, TuneIn, and other streaming apps.
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Announcer: For more information on how you can advertise on the number one pet podcast and radio network, visit petliferadio.com/advertise today.
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Announcer: Let's Talk Pets on petliferadio.com.
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Deborah Wolfe: Hello, you're listening to Animal Party on Pet Life Radio with me, Deb Wolfe.
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Deborah Wolfe: And I want your questions.
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Deborah Wolfe: Deb at petliferadio.com.
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Deborah Wolfe: I want your problems.
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Deborah Wolfe: I wanna help you.
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Deborah Wolfe: If you've got a dog that's really naughty or a cat that's destroying things or any animal in your life that's just not doing what you want, or maybe it's just quite quirky and you're puzzled by its behavior and you wanna know why it does the things it does, then send me a voice clip, deb at petliferadio.com.
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Deborah Wolfe: That's my favorite.
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Deborah Wolfe: But if you're too shy, just send a text or an email and we'll solve your problem on the show.
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Deborah Wolfe: Okay, so, I mean, there was, okay, I'll reach some of the ones we've got so far.
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Deborah Wolfe: Someone's asking, and I'm so tempted to answer these questions, but I'm gonna wait until we've got Dr.
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Deborah Wolfe: Coren so you get two heads are better than one and you get the professor of psychology answering you.
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Deborah Wolfe: But here we go.
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Deborah Wolfe: So someone asked, my cat licked its paws so much, so much, so much, so much, so much.
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Deborah Wolfe: She wrote three lines of so much.
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Deborah Wolfe: And then so much, so much, so much.
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Deborah Wolfe: Okay, we get the idea.
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Deborah Wolfe: And then she said, is this OCD or is it an allergy?
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Deborah Wolfe: Good question.
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Deborah Wolfe: Good question.
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Deborah Wolfe: Okay, so let's go to some news.
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Deborah Wolfe: Now there's been a little bit of unpleasant news, and I just wanna remind you all, last year, March 14th, there was a whole bunch of dogs poisoned.
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Deborah Wolfe: And what they got a hold of was marijuana gummies, so candies of marijuana that had been laced with fentanyl.
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Deborah Wolfe: And they all died.
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Deborah Wolfe: That same gummy, if a child had touched it, the child would probably die.
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Deborah Wolfe: So be on the lookout for these kinds of things.
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Deborah Wolfe: I mean, even much less dangerous, but still deadly, chocolate, Easter egg hunts.
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Deborah Wolfe: Keep your dogs on a leash if they're the kinds of dogs who eat everything they find.
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Deborah Wolfe: Be very aware.
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Deborah Wolfe: Don't go where there's been Easter egg hunts and chocolates left behind.
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Deborah Wolfe: Don't go where right near, you know, after a music festival in the park, and it's littered with cigarette butts and broken glass.
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Deborah Wolfe: And yeah, you know what?
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Deborah Wolfe: Pick someplace else, because that's where your dog's gonna find these things.
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Deborah Wolfe: And next to the shops that sell them, in the parks and playgrounds near there, probably not a good idea.
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Deborah Wolfe: Just be aware that this drug is so deadly that even the tiniest amount can be dangerous.
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Deborah Wolfe: Okay, so we covered that one.
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Deborah Wolfe: I don't wanna talk too much about that.
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Deborah Wolfe: It gets me upset.
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Deborah Wolfe: So let's see.
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Deborah Wolfe: Let's talk about croc sandals.
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Deborah Wolfe: I had a comedian on TV talking about them, and he was saying that there's really no reason to wear them.
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Deborah Wolfe: Trent McClellan in 2001 did this whole routine on croc sandals.
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Deborah Wolfe: But one of the things he said on it, and this was on the Much Music TV station.
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Deborah Wolfe: One of the things he said about croc sandals is when he asked people why they wear them, they always say, oh, they're so warm and comfortable.
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Deborah Wolfe: They're so cuddly and comfortable.
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Deborah Wolfe: And he says, look, if people with fanny packs are laughing at you, it's time to take your crocs off.
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Deborah Wolfe: And then he said, and if you want something soft and cuddly on your feet, well, get a cat to fall asleep on them.
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Deborah Wolfe: Or why don't you walk around with puppies on your feet?
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Deborah Wolfe: And I thought that was pretty funny.
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Deborah Wolfe: Now, first of all, I don't laugh at people wearing crocs.
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Deborah Wolfe: Not at all, they're very comfortable.
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Deborah Wolfe: Second, I don't laugh at people wearing fanny packs because that's the best place to keep your leash and your dog treats.
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Deborah Wolfe: And if you need some kind of protection in the park, you could keep that there too.
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Deborah Wolfe: And your poop bags and all that.
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Deborah Wolfe: I mean, you don't want in your pocket.
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Deborah Wolfe: You don't want to carry a rucksack.
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Deborah Wolfe: So why not carry a fanny pack?
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Deborah Wolfe: And if you've got an area of your body you want to cover, you place the fanny pack on that area.
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Deborah Wolfe: Perfect, it's a slimming device.
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Deborah Wolfe: All right, so that's what I say to that.
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Deborah Wolfe: Yeah, so, okay.
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Deborah Wolfe: So we're gonna go through a few more things.
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Deborah Wolfe: So I've noticed recently that there's a lot of commercials with dogs.
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Deborah Wolfe: I've told you about this before.
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Deborah Wolfe: Sometimes I just don't understand it.
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Deborah Wolfe: Like why does the dog give you tax advice?
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Deborah Wolfe: Why does the dog give you advice on your cholesterol intake?
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Deborah Wolfe: Why is the dog your credit advisor, right?
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Deborah Wolfe: Like the clear score credit, there's a terrier cross giving credit advice on that commercial.
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Deborah Wolfe: There's a golden doodle giving advice on another one.
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Deborah Wolfe: And in a lingerie ad, JLo comes out of her balcony in her sexy, sexy lingerie.
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Deborah Wolfe: And you're supposed to assume there's intruders on the fence because she says bye when her dogs playfully bark at the intruders.
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Deborah Wolfe: What the heck is going on with that whole commercial?
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Deborah Wolfe: Cooper, wait, okay, I don't get it.
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Deborah Wolfe: I really don't get it.
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Deborah Wolfe: First of all, my dogs would shred that intruder and it wouldn't be a playful, silly bark.
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Deborah Wolfe: And why is she walking around JLo, the celebrity, much wanted by paparazzi and weird freaky fans?
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Deborah Wolfe: Why is she walking around in lingerie in an exposed backyard?
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Deborah Wolfe: And then why three tiny little half medium friendly dogs?
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Deborah Wolfe: The whole thing just doesn't make sense.
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Deborah Wolfe: You need a guard dog, JLo.
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Deborah Wolfe: You need a serious guard dog if you want to walk around looking like that in your beautiful lingerie with that sexy body of yours.
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Deborah Wolfe: You need more than those three little pets saying hello.
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Deborah Wolfe: And then why did you say bye to the intruder?
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Deborah Wolfe: I don't know.
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Deborah Wolfe: That whole commercial confused me.
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Deborah Wolfe: So I like commercials where the dogs act like they actually would, or the cats act like they actually would, as opposed to financial advisors.
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Deborah Wolfe: All right, but having said that, there is a bank that's got a dog employed for stress.
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Deborah Wolfe: And it just hangs around at the bank.
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Deborah Wolfe: And if you're stressed out about your finances, you can pet it.
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Deborah Wolfe: Now that's a good job for a dog.
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Deborah Wolfe: All right, everybody, we're gonna go to break and be back on Animal Party Pet Life Radio.
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Deborah Wolfe: And I'm gonna tell you about the Academy Awards and your taxes when we get back.
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Deborah Wolfe: Molly, here's your dinner.
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Announcer: Zeus, that's not your food.
00:10:06.818 --> 00:10:08.918
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00:10:09.118 --> 00:10:12.338
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00:10:20.938 --> 00:10:30.578
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00:10:43.358 --> 00:10:45.458
Announcer: cattreetray.com.
00:10:47.618 --> 00:10:54.058
Announcer: Let's Talk Pets on Pet Life Radio.
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Announcer: Pet Life Radio.
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Deborah Wolfe: Hello, we're back on Animal Party Pet Life Radio.
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Deborah Wolfe: And I'm sure you all noticed Ryan Gosling, the Canadian at Academy Awards, but did you notice him look at Messy?
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Deborah Wolfe: Did you notice him give the love look to Messy the Border Collie?
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Deborah Wolfe: Well, I sure did.
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Deborah Wolfe: Apparently, they met at the luncheon previous and hit it off.
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Deborah Wolfe: So she was there, Messy was there.
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Deborah Wolfe: Messy was in the movie.
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Deborah Wolfe: It's a court drama.
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Deborah Wolfe: It was nominated for Best Picture, Anatomy of a Fall.
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Deborah Wolfe: It's a French movie.
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Deborah Wolfe: And when Robert Downey Jr.
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Deborah Wolfe: won, Messy put her paws up as if to say, woo-hoo, go, go.
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Deborah Wolfe: So she seemed to delight in that.
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Deborah Wolfe: So I just wanted to say, nice to see a dog at the Academy Awards, especially a well-behaved Border Collie.
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Deborah Wolfe: Very nice indeed.
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Deborah Wolfe: I didn't expect that.
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Deborah Wolfe: I was happy to see that.
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Deborah Wolfe: And if you like Border Collies, or if you just like seeing dogs do their job, check out my Deb Wolfe Pet Expert on Facebook.
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Deborah Wolfe: Yeah, check that out, because I've posted a really cool video of some Border Collies nailing it, nailing it with sheep and such.
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Deborah Wolfe: And it's just a couple of minutes, but it's so good.
00:12:16.982 --> 00:12:17.862
Deborah Wolfe: So check that out.
00:12:17.882 --> 00:12:22.062
Deborah Wolfe: I used to have 13 goats, two llamas and one blue heeler.
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Deborah Wolfe: I still have a blue heeler, different blue heeler, elderly one now.
00:12:25.622 --> 00:12:28.002
Deborah Wolfe: And I still have two little goats, but it's not quite the same.
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Deborah Wolfe: When my squeaky monkey, my old blue heeler, when she was young, and she used to bring the herd in from the other side of the river, and the potloughs were flying, and she was so good.
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Deborah Wolfe: She would make an example out of one that was misbehaving or not adhering to the path.
00:12:44.842 --> 00:12:50.242
Deborah Wolfe: And then all the others would just do the thing right away.
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Deborah Wolfe: They'd go right in there.
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Deborah Wolfe: Oh, aye, aye, sir.
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Deborah Wolfe: So yeah, watching her work was incredible.
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Deborah Wolfe: And she wasn't really trained for it.
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Deborah Wolfe: She just had a knack for it as they sometimes do.
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Deborah Wolfe: All right, so I promised you tax advice and we're quickly running out of time here.
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Deborah Wolfe: So I just thought this was really interesting.
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Deborah Wolfe: Now I'm gonna give American numbers.
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Deborah Wolfe: If you're in Canada, you'll have to figure out your province and your deductions and things.
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Deborah Wolfe: But basically in the United States, you're allowed about $13,000, $12,950 of a standard deduction amount for single filers and about $25,900, so about $26,000 for joint filers for a couple.
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Deborah Wolfe: And for a head of a household for joint filers and for heads of household, $19,400.
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Deborah Wolfe: So if you're already over those numbers, you can't really use the advice I'm telling you about.
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Deborah Wolfe: But if you're not, if you haven't claimed your maximum standard deduction amount and you do have a dog or a cat, there's several ways you can use them to not pay as much in tax.
00:13:54.282 --> 00:13:57.742
Deborah Wolfe: So first of all, the obvious one is the service animals, right?
00:13:57.922 --> 00:14:09.622
Deborah Wolfe: If you've got a disability, if you've got some kind of diagnosed, recognized, documented post-traumatic stress disorder or mental condition that allows you a service dog.
00:14:10.042 --> 00:14:14.802
Deborah Wolfe: If you have MS, like there's all kinds of Parkinson's, there's all kinds of reasons why you might need a dog.
00:14:15.162 --> 00:14:31.182
Deborah Wolfe: So if you have some kind of use that's documented and official, you might be able to deduct expenses for food, training, grooming, veterinary care, any expenses above 7.5% of your adjusted gross income.
00:14:31.642 --> 00:14:36.522
Deborah Wolfe: So that means, I mean, if you had a big bill for a hip surgery or something for your dog, that could be covered.
00:14:36.542 --> 00:14:38.222
Deborah Wolfe: That could be one of the things you could deduct.
00:14:38.662 --> 00:14:41.422
Deborah Wolfe: So it's not enough that your pet just gives you comfort.
00:14:41.422 --> 00:14:48.702
Deborah Wolfe: In this category, the animal has to be trained, certified as a treatment animal for the diagnosed condition.
00:14:48.762 --> 00:14:52.682
Deborah Wolfe: So you may also need to show doctor's proof and certification proof.
00:14:53.222 --> 00:14:55.302
Deborah Wolfe: But there's easier ways to qualify.
00:14:55.322 --> 00:15:04.702
Deborah Wolfe: Okay, so for the rest of us, if you have a dog who guards your house or your business, then you can do the same.
00:15:04.722 --> 00:15:09.242
Deborah Wolfe: If you have a cat that kills mice, then you can do the same.
00:15:09.262 --> 00:15:10.622
Deborah Wolfe: Now you have to document it carefully.
00:15:10.642 --> 00:15:11.362
Deborah Wolfe: So here's the deal.
00:15:11.682 --> 00:15:17.242
Deborah Wolfe: If your pet also works in the family business as a guard dog or a pest control cat, you gotta be prepared though.
00:15:17.262 --> 00:15:23.702
Deborah Wolfe: You may have to prove your animal is an ordinary part of the business, essential to the business, always at the business.
00:15:23.722 --> 00:15:25.222
Deborah Wolfe: Take pictures of your animal at the business.
00:15:25.242 --> 00:15:26.862
Deborah Wolfe: Take videos of it doing what it's doing.
00:15:27.342 --> 00:15:30.542
Deborah Wolfe: Now, some breed restrictions are gonna apply.
00:15:30.562 --> 00:15:38.162
Deborah Wolfe: If you try to claim your min pin or your chihuahua is protecting your business, it's gonna be a tough call.
00:15:38.182 --> 00:15:44.862
Deborah Wolfe: I mean, you may be able to say they're an alarm, but I think if you got a big dog that stays at the store, that's protection.
00:15:44.922 --> 00:15:50.322
Deborah Wolfe: It's stopping people from coming in and smashing your windows or grabbing merchandise or grabbing the money.
00:15:50.642 --> 00:15:53.082
Deborah Wolfe: So if you got a big dog at the store, it counts.
00:15:53.102 --> 00:15:59.002
Deborah Wolfe: If you got a little dog, you might have to argue the alarm argument, but still make some good records so you could do it.
00:15:59.422 --> 00:16:02.162
Deborah Wolfe: And you'll be able to claim quite a bit of their expenses.
00:16:02.542 --> 00:16:05.562
Deborah Wolfe: Another area is hobby turned business.
00:16:06.162 --> 00:16:16.822
Deborah Wolfe: So most of us who show dogs or do agility or whatever can't claim, but if you're lucky enough to go viral with videos or become some kind of influencer with your pet, then this counts.
00:16:17.342 --> 00:16:23.142
Deborah Wolfe: So then, like say your YouTube channel gets monetized and it's all about your pet and your pet's the star.
00:16:23.662 --> 00:16:35.202
Deborah Wolfe: Okay, well, keep track of your pet related expenses and the income the same way you would for a person, and you'll be able to claim it all in the same way that I mentioned, up to that allowable limit to fill up the deductions.
00:16:35.662 --> 00:16:38.142
Deborah Wolfe: Okay, so now here's the best one, I think.
00:16:38.502 --> 00:16:39.542
Deborah Wolfe: Yes, I love this one.
00:16:39.782 --> 00:16:42.822
Deborah Wolfe: Okay, but first I'm gonna tell you the pet related moving expenses.
00:16:43.202 --> 00:16:47.642
Deborah Wolfe: If your animal's used for work, you can claim all the moving expenses for them as a deduction.
00:16:48.162 --> 00:16:52.942
Deborah Wolfe: So a few states like California are especially good with this.
00:16:53.242 --> 00:16:56.222
Deborah Wolfe: Some states have eliminated this except for military members.
00:16:56.242 --> 00:17:00.142
Deborah Wolfe: So you do have to check with your state, but the pet related moving expenses are possible.
00:17:00.502 --> 00:17:04.082
Deborah Wolfe: Now here's the one I like the best, foster pets.
00:17:04.422 --> 00:17:19.642
Deborah Wolfe: Okay, if you foster a pet from an organization that's a recognized legit charity, you know, with a tax number and everything, then all the money you spend caring for your foster animals is considered a charitable donation, as long as it's a qualified nonprofit.
00:17:19.942 --> 00:17:26.962
Deborah Wolfe: So most of the shelters will cover the cost of food and medical expenses, but anything you're not reimbursed for could potentially qualify.
00:17:27.242 --> 00:17:33.562
Deborah Wolfe: So gas for driving the dog around back and forth, tolls, meals, parking, you could do well.
00:17:33.562 --> 00:17:37.962
Deborah Wolfe: And I think that's wonderful because it makes fostering more affordable.
00:17:38.302 --> 00:17:40.682
Deborah Wolfe: And why shouldn't it be counted as a tax donation?
00:17:40.702 --> 00:17:42.522
Deborah Wolfe: You are donating to a charity.
00:17:43.002 --> 00:17:45.122
Deborah Wolfe: So that's a little help with your taxes.
00:17:45.122 --> 00:17:47.042
Deborah Wolfe: I hope it helps some of you out there.
00:17:47.762 --> 00:18:00.122
Deborah Wolfe: And I just wanna say one more thing while I was on the air just now, we got at deb at petliferadio.com, we got an email, and I hope this person will reconsider and maybe call back and leave a voicemail.
00:18:00.142 --> 00:18:03.442
Deborah Wolfe: But they say they rescued a border collie years ago.
00:18:03.962 --> 00:18:09.042
Deborah Wolfe: And at first, the border collie was scared of a few things, mostly reflections.
00:18:09.982 --> 00:18:14.982
Deborah Wolfe: But now, the border collie won't ever go up their own stairs because once it saw a reflection there.
00:18:15.522 --> 00:18:31.282
Deborah Wolfe: So normally, I would just answer this on the air and tell you how to kind of decondition your dog out of being afraid of reflections and starting with the stairs and starting and having a toy and taping something reflective to their favorite toy and starting to diffuse this connection.
00:18:31.682 --> 00:18:33.582
Deborah Wolfe: But because Stan Coren, Dr.
00:18:33.602 --> 00:18:38.922
Deborah Wolfe: Stan Coren, professor of psychology, is coming on the show in a couple of weeks, I'm just going to ask him this question.
00:18:38.942 --> 00:18:46.462
Deborah Wolfe: Because I think he'll give a very interesting answer, not just how to train out of it, but why this happens in the canine mind.
00:18:46.782 --> 00:18:49.242
Deborah Wolfe: All right, and then I just wanted to say one more thing.
00:18:49.262 --> 00:18:57.602
Deborah Wolfe: I was watching on TV and there was a cat and a dog fight, dog and cat fighting, and the person went to grab the cat to break it up.
00:18:58.102 --> 00:19:12.002
Deborah Wolfe: And I would suggest to you, if ever you're in that situation and you see a cat attack a dog or a dog attack a cat, and you want to break it up, if you're choosing to grab one of them, and I really don't think you should, but if you do, grab the dog.
00:19:12.802 --> 00:19:13.762
Deborah Wolfe: Don't grab the cat.
00:19:14.262 --> 00:19:15.902
Deborah Wolfe: That person ended up in the hospital.
00:19:16.302 --> 00:19:28.962
Deborah Wolfe: All right, everybody, we'll be back in a week with more Animal Party on Pet Life Radio, and I hope you'll leave me your questions and texts and voice clips to Deb at petliferadio.com.
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