National Pet Wellness Month, observed every October, aims to promote awareness of pet health and well-being, with the American Veterinary Medical Association encouraging year-round focus on caring for our pets. As part of this initiative, Assemblywoman Barbara McCann Stamato, D-31, is urging New Jersey to eliminate the sales tax on pet medications.
Currently, medications prescribed by veterinarians to treat pets are subject to sales tax, while the same medications are exempt when sold for human use. To address this, McCann Stamato has introduced legislation (A2212) to exempt pet medications from the sales tax, reducing costs for pet owners across the state.
“For many people who own pets, those pets are an integral part of their family, and taking care of their health is just as important as caring for the rest of their family. However, pet healthcare can be costly. With pet medications subject to New Jersey’s sales tax, it becomes even more expensive for families to provide the necessary care for their animals,” McCann Stamato said. “I am proud to introduce this legislation, alongside Assemblyman William B. Sampson IV to repeal the sales tax on pet medications and make pet ownership and healthcare more affordable for New Jersey families.”
This initiative, in alignment with National Pet Wellness Month, highlights the importance of accessible and affordable healthcare for pets and encourages residents to support legislation that helps families better care for their beloved companions.
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Kevin A. Canessa Jr. is the editor of and broadcaster at The Observer, an organization he has served since 2006. He is responsible for the editorial content of the newspaper and website, the production of the e-Newspaper, writing several stories per week (including the weekly editorial), conducting live broadcasts on social media channels such as YouTube, Facebook, and X, including a weekly recap of the news — and much more behind the scenes. Between 2006 and 2008, he introduced the newspaper to its first-ever blog — which included podcasts, audio and video. Originally from Jersey City, Kevin lived in Kearny until 2004, lived in Port St. Lucie. Florida, for four years until February 2016 and in March of that year, he moved back to Kearny to return to The Observer full time. Click Here to send Kevin an email.