An Act providing tax credits to promote the adoption of a dog or cat from a shelter

This bill creates a tax credit for Massachusetts taxpayers who adopt dogs or cats from approved shelters. It provides up to $400 for older dogs (7+ years) or disabled pets, $200 for medium-aged dogs (1-6 years) or older cats, and $100 for younger cats (1-6 years), distributed over three years (20% first year, 40% each subsequent year). Taxpayers must submit adoption documentation and proof of registration (for dogs) to claim the credit, with a $500 maximum per household over three years. The program is funded through a $30 fee on new "Animal Friendly" license plates for vehicles, deposited into a dedicated shelter pet fund.