Can you claim your pet on your income taxes?

Is there a way to claim your pets on your income taxes as a dependent?

Public Comments

1. Your not serious, are You? The only way that I have ever heard of is if it is a service animal. Seeing eye, helping hand, that sort of thing, certified.
2. god would it be great if we could but no...unless you have a bisuness that require a dog..like drug sniffer dog..or whatever..but just your family pets..no....
3. no, i wish though
4. I have heard of people claiming their pets whom they use in conjunction with a buisness, ie: a mascot or advertising tool. I know they claim food and vet expenses as a buisness expense, but im not sure on a personal level...im thinking no.
5. Only service animals can be claimed, and even then the deduction is minimal.
6. Only if it's a service animal or a business expenditure.
7. Nope! ~ not unless you've found a legal way to cheat the government.~
8. yes you can. The tricky part is getting the pet a social security number.
9. Sorry, but no this can't be done. But one who uses their pets to have gainful income, must report the income earned from their animals on their taxes as taxable income (show animals winning cash prizes, selling animal babies as a breeder, etc).
10. Maybe not.
11. NO, you can only claim human children as dependent.