A dog may be a man's best friend - except at tax time.

Just 25% of voters nationwide favor a proposal that would allow pet owners to deduct up to $3,500 for "qualified pet-care expenses" for household pets. The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 71% oppose the plan, and four percent (4%) are not sure.

A proposal known as the HAPPY (Humanity and Pets Partnered Through the Years) Act was introduced in Congress earlier this year. However, the plan is only a bit more popular than adding a national sales tax.

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Even pet owners are dubious and oppose the HAPPY idea by a two-to-one margin. Among those who do not own a pet, nine percent (9%) favor the proposal, and 86% are opposed.

Women like the tax break more than men. Most voters under 30 favor the approach, but their elders strongly disagree.

Democrats are more than twice as likely to favor the pet-care tax deduction than Republicans.

Most voters (55%) say tax cuts are generally good for the economy.

Advocates of the HAPPY legislation say, "Providing pet owners the opportunity to deduct pet care expenses is an important step toward ensuring that pet owners provide adequate veterinary and other necessary pet care. It encourages responsible pet ownership and will hopefully reduce the abandonment of pets by people struggling as a result of the economic downturn."

Opponents have had some fun with the proposal, even creating a tongue-in-cheek “Individual Pet Tax Return” which includes a line item for rating the cuteness of your pet.

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