NY Bill Proposes up to $900 Tax Credit for Pet Care

Senate Bill S9808 proposes to help offset routine pet care costs and their medical care costs and would apply to up to two pets a year.

Juliette Fairley

Published: 4/8/2026, 2:31:24 PM EDT

NY Bill Proposes up to $900 Tax Credit for Pet Care — A little cat and dog in their bed. (Melinda Nagy/Adobe Stock)

The New York State Assembly is considering legislation that would give pet owners a financial break.

Senate Bill S9808, proposed by New York state senator Nathalia Fernandez, would help offset routine costs and medical care costs and apply to up to two pets a year.

The bill, however, is far from being approved anytime soon.

It’s currently being reviewed by the Senate Budget and Revenue Committee.

“As with any tax credit, the primary consideration is the fiscal impact on the State,” New York state senator Nathalia Fernandez’s communications director David Montilla told NTD. “Ensuring the proposal is balanced with the State’s broader budget priorities will be key to moving it forward.”

If approved, pet guardians would receive up to $150 per pet for food, leashes, litter, carriers, and toys as well as up to $300 per pet for medical check-ups, prescriptions, medical exams, and emergency care.

In the bill, the tax credit is capped annually at $450 for one cat or dog and $900 for two pets after owners provide documentation of expenses when claiming the credit.

"This legislation was introduced in response to the rising cost of pet ownership, particularly veterinary care and essential supplies,” state senator Nathalia Fernandez’s communications director David Montilla told NTD.

Fernandez represents the Bronx and Westchester.

The American Pet Products Association (APPA) estimates that the cost of caring for a pet will reach a total of $157 billion in 2026, with annual costs for a dog averaging at $2,524 and $1,499 for a cat.

“Many households are taking on debt to care for their pets as prices continue to climb,” Montilla said.

Surveys support the claim that a significant number of dog and cat owners have gone into debt for emergency treatment.

A Met Life Pet Insurance study found that one in five pet owners, or 22 percent, carry more than $2,000 in pet debt, one in 7, or 15 percent, struggle to meet their own basic needs while caring for a pet, and more than half, or 55 percent, have avoided adopting a second pet due to financial concerns.

“This bill would provide meaningful relief to a broad cross-section of New Yorkers navigating these rising costs,” Montilla further stated.

A visit to a veterinarian’s office alone has increased 60 percent in the past decade, according to Farevet.

Assemblymember Steven Raga (D-District 30) introduced companion bill A5340 to the Assembly, where it is currently pending in the Assembly Ways and Means Committee.

“Pet ownership is widespread across New York, and the financial burden is growing,” Montilla added. “Costs for pet food and veterinary services have increased sharply with many households spending hundreds of dollars annually on care.”