Unfortunately, most Canadians can't claim pets on their income tax returns. Even though it might feel like it sometimes, pets are not classified by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) as dependants and are, therefore, not tax deductible.

However, you may be able to claim animals if any of the following situations apply to you:

• You have a specially trained service animal; or
• You are a farmer and you have raised livestock for business purposes or raised outdoor animals to protect your crops.
  

Service animal

If you have a specially trained service animal, you can claim the cost of purchasing the animal if you are blind, profoundly deaf, suffer from a severe and prolonged severe physical impairment that restricts the use of your arms or legs, affected by autism or epilepsy, or have severe diabetes (for expenses incurred after 2013).

Farmer

If you are a farmer, you can claim the cost of the livestock and associated expenses such as feed, veterinary fees, medicines, breeding fees, insurance premiums paid to insure livestock, etc. Click this link for more information on expenses you can claim as a livestock farmer.

Where can I learn more?

• Details of medical expenses (CRA website)
• Farming Income (CRA website)