Attention all California residents!! Governor Schwarzenegger wants to increase taxes on veterinary services! As many humans know, it’s hard to get good, affordable health care coverage for themselves… imagine trying to get health coverage and services for pets! And now add a new tax on top of that! If this tax goes into effect this will make it harder for rescues to pull animals that are about to be put to sleep and will most likely increase the number of animals being put to sleep or shorten the time they get for a second chance at a good home!
Say NO to the FidoFine!
What can you do? Well if you live in the state of California, give him a call at 916-445-2841 and urge him to drop the Fido Fine from the 2009-2010 budget proposal. Please be brief and polite, select your language choice and press 5 to leave your opinion. Make sure you give your name and address so it’s clear that you’re a California resident.
It is often hard enough for pet owners to get their pets appropriate medical care. Imagine the consequences to pets, owners, rescues, and shelters all over the state! It continues to get harder for shelters and rescues all over the state as donations are slowing and shelters have to shorten hours – that means less animals being rescued or adopted and more being put to sleep.
Increasing this tax will cause financial burdens for pet owners. Even those who have pet insurance will probably face rate increases. Please voice your opinion for us animals and tell your elected officials to say No to the FidoFine! There are other taxes that he can work on increasing, but veterinary services should not be the one!
See below for a message from the Executive Vice President of the Humane Society of the United States:
Don’t Let Costs of Veterinary Services Increase in California
Dear Concerned Citizen,
As one way of “dealing” with the current budget crisis, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has recklessly proposed the Fido Fine to extend the sales tax to veterinary services.
The Governor just released his 2009-2010 budget proposal, and he hasn’t dropped the
Fido Fine. If the Governor gets his way, the cost of veterinary care for all animals in California, including those in families, on farms and in shelters, would go up by as much as 10%.
TAKE ACTION
Please make a brief, polite phone call to Governor Schwarzenegger at 916-445-2841 to urge him to drop the Fido Fine from the 2009-2010 budget proposal. When you call, please select your language choice and then press 5 to leave your opinion on this issue. Remember to be polite and professional, and leave your name and address so it is clear that you are a California resident. You can say:
“Hello, my name is [your name] and I’m calling from [your town] to urge Governor Schwarzenegger to remove the Fido Fine from the 2009-2010 budget proposal. Veterinary care is not a luxury and taxing it will lead to suffering, abandonment and higher costs for local humane agencies that are already overwhelmed and underfunded. Thank you.”
After making your call, please send a follow-up email to your state legislators in opposition to this tax. And don’t forget to tell your friends and family in California how they can take action, too.
Thank you for all you do for animals.
Sincerely,
Mike Markarian
Executive Vice President
The Humane Society of the United States