YouTube dogs: congressman wants tax breaks for pet owners

Republican Congressman Thaddeus McCotter of Michigan has introduced a bill that would allow pet owners to deduct up to $3,500 per year in pet care expenses.

The bill also has the distinction of being one of the most poorly-named pieces of legislation in U.S. history: the Humanity and Pets Partnered Through the Years Act, or "HAPPY Act."

In a video for DoggyTV on YouTube, he explained that "Well, we've had reports of people having to turn in pets because of the economic recession. And when you think about the relationship between people and pets and the humane way that it helps people think, it seemed to me to be a good idea, and we dropped it in."