It depends… but in some cases, yes, you actually can. 🐶💼

As a tax professional, I get this question more often than you’d think—usually as a joke, but the truth is, under the right circumstances, a pet can be a legitimate business deduction. Here’s how:

✅ Guard Animals – If your dog guards your business property (especially for brick-and-mortar locations or warehouses), that expense may be partially deductible. Think food, vet bills, and training.

✅ Pest Control – Cats used to keep mice and other pests out of your business space? They might qualify, especially if they live full-time at the business.

✅ Marketing Mascots – If your pet is part of your brand (think social media, ads, logos, etc.), you may be able to deduct expenses related to grooming, costumes, or photography.

🚫 What Doesn’t Work – Just loving your dog and calling your home office “his domain” won’t fly with the IRS. There needs to be a clear business purpose, proper documentation, and ideally, a history of consistent use or marketing tied to the pet.

🐾 Bottom line: Don’t try to fudge the numbers, but if your furry friend really is part of the business, there might be a deduction there for you.

Want to talk through a unique deduction strategy that actually works? Let’s connect.

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