"Tax Credit of 45,000 KRW per Month for Pet Owners"... French Lawmaker's Bold Proposal Amid Inflation Pressure

Proposal for 45,000 Won Monthly Tax Credit
Increase in Stray Animals Pointed Out Amid Rising Prices

A member of the French National Assembly has proposed applying a tax credit for those who keep pets such as dogs and cats.

On the 25th (local time), Emric Caron, a member of the far-left French party La France Insoumise (LFI), appeared on radio station RMC and suggested, "Let's introduce a tax credit of 30 euros (about 45,000 won) per pet per month." Caron pointed out that "the price of dog and cat food increased by 18% from 2022 to 2023," noting that the rising cost of living is causing an increase in abandoned pets.

Local media BFMTV reported that one in five French citizens might give up adopting a pet this year. France is a representative "pet-friendly country," with more than half of the population owning pets, but recent price hikes have caused financial burdens.

In particular, the intention to give up pet adoption was prominent among younger people. Among those under 35, 32% said they might give up adoption, while only 15% of middle-aged and older adults responded similarly. By income, 28% of households earning less than 2,000 euros (about 2.88 million won) per month showed an intention to give up adoption, compared to 16% of households earning more than 2,000 euros. Among households already owning pets, 44% reported adjusting other expenses to cover pet care costs.

Caron emphasized, "They are members of our families, but legislators still do not understand that," adding, "What I am proposing is a complete paradigm shift." He also proposed exempting value-added tax entirely for animal shelters and associations. He explained, "This idea is not about creating new businesses or increasing the number of pets, but simply about treating animals better."

Meanwhile, according to the "2023 National Survey on Animal Welfare" announced by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs last January, the average monthly cost of keeping one pet was about 130,000 won. The average monthly cost of keeping a dog was 166,000 won, while the cost for a cat was lower at 113,000 won. It was also found that households with higher average monthly incomes spent more money on pet care. However, among pet owners who considered giving up pet care, 40.2% (multiple responses allowed) said they were concerned because "expenses were higher than expected."