Bill on pet food fees would impose another burden

House Bill 85, currently under consideration in the Maryland legislature, would increase fees on pet food, already among the highest in the nation, making it even harder for working-class residents to experience the joys of animal companionship.

A 2021 report found an estimated 29 million dogs and cats live in households that use food stamps. Almost one-third of pet owners said they can’t afford their veterinary care. These costs are already rising faster than overall inflation: The price of pet food is 25% more expensive than in 2020, and vet care is up 11% since 2022.

Research consistently proves that animal lovers are willing to make sacrifices for their best friends. Consider that nearly half of pet owners who say they’ve gone into debt to cover vet bills, or the 40% of dog owners who live on a tighter budget to provide for their pooch.

Maryland’s recently passed ban on the sale of dogs and cats has already put prospective pet ownership out of reach for many by requiring car ownership and hefty sums of cash up front to purchase a pet from a breeder. HB85 would impose another financial burden on the Maryland pet owners who make up roughly half of all households in the state and could further discourage others from welcoming a pet into their home. That would be a shame. Pets make us happy and healthy. Owning one shouldn’t be a privilege reserved only for the wealthy elite. This proposed tax barks up the wrong tree. — Will Coggin

Coggin is managing director of Center for Consumer Freedom