Tax Tricks - Writing off the Dog (And not as a Dependent)

Dear Agatha the Auditor, I just got a new watch dog named Isis!  She is going to grow up to be a large dog and I want to be able to write off her training, the hundreds of bags of food, and her vet bills.  What can I do to make her a "business expense"? Help, Puppy Mom in Scottsdale, ------------------------------------------------------- Dear Puppy Mom in Scottsdale, Technically dogs are not write offs unless you own a business in which the dog is an Ordinary & Necessary business expense.  So, common businesses that can write off these kind of expense might be a Professional Dog Trainer or a Night Guard.  However,..... It all depends on how agressive you want to be.  In order for an expense to be Ordinary & Necessary it must be for the business purpose of the company.  So, take for example a firm that may have workers in the office late at night where the office is not in a "good" and "safe" nieghborhood, for that office a dog  who is trained in protection techniques could be a Necessary business expense.  It all depends on what you can prove to an IRS auditor is Ordinary & Necessary. Of course, talk to your CPA regarding the details of your puppy expenses and what else can be done to help you deduct additional costs! Yours, Agatha the Auditor