By Jelani Gibson | NJ.com
nj.com
(TNS)
New Jersey voters narrowly support a proposal that would give pet owners a state tax credit, according to a new Fairleigh Dickinson University poll, reflecting concerns about the rising cost of caring for dogs and cats.
Forty-five percent of registered voters said they support providing tax credits for pet owners, while 41% opposed the idea and 13% were undecided, according to the poll released Wednesday.
The proposal, A4995, would provide pet owners with a $300 state tax credit for everyday pet expenses and up to an additional $600 for veterinary care. The bill is sponsored by Assemblyman Alex Sauickie, R-Ocean County.
The findings come as New Jersey residents face some of the nation’s highest pet ownership costs.
The average cost of owning a dog in the United States is about $28,800 over the animal’s lifetime, according to a 2024 MarketWatch study. In New Jersey, the lifetime cost rises to $32,947, making it the fourth most expensive state in the nation for dog ownership.
Support for the tax credit was strongest among younger voters. Fifty-seven percent of voters age 30 and younger favored the proposal, compared with 27% who opposed it. Support declined steadily with age, with only 31% of voters 65 and older backing the tax credit while 60% opposed it.
Democrats were the most supportive political group, with 51% backing the measure and 36% opposing it. Republicans were more closely divided, with 43% in favor and 48% opposed. Independent voters were more likely to oppose the proposal than support it, 46% to 37%.
“Some people do think of their pets as being like children,” said Dan Cassino, executive director of the FDU Poll and a professor of government and politics at Fairleigh Dickinson University. “So, the logic is that if children get a tax credit, pets should as well.”
Cassino noted that while critics may question whether the tax break would disproportionately benefit some residents, voters may be focused more on the financial relief the measure would provide amid high pet-care costs.
The survey of 1,211 registered New Jersey voters was conducted June 23-30 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.2 percentage points.
Photo credit: wirestock/Freepik
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Tags: new jersey, pet owners, pets, state legislatures, tax breaks, tax credit, tax credits, Taxes
