Little by little, the needs and rights of ARISTOPETS are being taken more into account. Not only by society in general, but also by those who govern us. In recent months, we have witnessed a major step forward. The Civil Code now recognizes that animals are living beings endowed with sentience, and not things, which is how they had always been regarded, with extremely poor judgment. Read more
Well, a few weeks ago, within the framework of a plenary session of the Congress of Deputies, debate began on the draft 2018 General State Budget (PGE). If approved by a majority, the budget would then go to the Senate for final approval.
During this debate, each minister explained the budget allocations for their ministries, and the political groups proposed amendments. One of them, which made us immensely happy, directly challenged veterinary VAT.
As ARISTOPARENTS, we know that sometimes visiting the veterinarian means leaving with empty pockets. But we do it without hesitation, as often as necessary, because our ARISTOPETS are our family. We love them and are willing to do whatever is necessary for them.
But the fact is that when we visit the veterinarian, in addition to the consultation fee, we pay a very high VAT rate: 21%, the standard VAT rate. The same rate applied, for example, to hospitality, culture (cinema, theater), hair salons, gyms... Something that clearly makes no sense. Taking your ARISTODOG or ARISTOCAT to the veterinarian is a matter of necessity, public health control, or responsibility, since failing to treat animals' illnesses can have many consequences for them and for everyone else. It is therefore obvious that there is nothing pleasurable about it. So, what sense does it make to tax us equally when we visit the veterinarian and when we have dinner at a Japanese restaurant?
The amendment presented a demand that the sector has been advocating for a long time. It proposes that the tax rate be lowered from the standard rate (21%) to the reduced rate. The reduced VAT rate is 10% and applies to many products, such as food in general, passenger transport, horticultural plants, and amateur sporting events, among others. Previously, this tax rate was 8%, but if there is one thing that characterizes the economy in this country, it is that taxes are always raised for the same people...
The fact is that, ultimately, Congress rejected lowering veterinary VAT. The initiative presented by various political parties ultimately failed to secure a majority in the chamber, as other parties refused to support it.
It is sad news that certainly does not make things easier for families experiencing greater financial difficulties and caring for one or more pets. Considering pets “a luxury” does not help reduce the rate of animal abandonment; quite the opposite. Although many people turn a blind eye, this also has a strong economic impact on public administrations, which are, in principle, responsible for caring for all those abandoned animals. Of course, we know that some shelters and animal protection organizations are private initiatives...
Another collateral effect of this tax rate is the closure of clinics. The rising cost of veterinary services leads to more cases of neglect by owners. At the same time, we become more demanding of veterinarians, because with everything we pay... the least we expect is perfect service.
Ultimately, they continue to turn a blind eye to a reality that should neither be politicized nor assigned a political color. Respect for pets and responsible ownership are concerned with only one thing: love.