By Tom Grady

An interesting bill, stuck at the committee level in the U.S. House of Representatives, could offer some relief from health care costs for pet guardians.

HR 3501, or the HAPPY Act (Humanity and Pets Partnered Through the Years), allows a tax deduction of up to $3,500 per year for pet care expenses.

I assume taxpayers would be required to provide receipts so that people will not collect pets to get the tax deduction. But I'd also like to see the bill modified to be exclusive to or to offer special consideration for those who have adopted homeless pets.