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The International Alliance
for Animal Therapy and Healing is a project of the United
Charitable Programs — a registered 501(c) (3)
public charity.
All
funds raised by The International Alliance for Animal Therapy
and Healing are received by United
Charitable Programs
(UCP) and become the sole property of UCP which, for internal
operating purposes allocates the funds to the project.
The Program Manger makes recommendations for disbursements
which are reviewed by UCP for approval.
The International
Alliance for Animal Therapy and Healing (IAATH) is dedicated
to the advancement and awareness of healing and health options
for animals.
IAATH was founded in 1999 after several years of organizational
meetings by dedicated and diverse professionals wanting
to help others in their fields. The founding council members
contributed hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars to
ensure a solid foundation for IAATH with nothing to gain
for themselves as all were professionals with successful
practices. The vision was to help set standards and guidance
in these emerging careers and dissolve the fear and conflict
through collaborative models of working together for the
well-being of animals.
IAATH was Established
in 1999
Mary Ann Simonds
Linda Tellington-Jones
Donna M. Starita, DVM
Dennis O'Brien,
DC
Jim Helfter
Gail Wetzler
Bruce Jackson,
DC
Mimi Porter
Mary Brennen,
DVM
Mary Bromily
Don Burt
Marvin Cain, DVM
Mike Foss, DVM
Michael Fox, DVM
Mike Gleason,
DC
Kevin Haussler,
DVM, DC, PhD
Fran Jurgan
David Miller,
DVM
Grant Myhre, DVM
Kerry Ridgway, DVM
Allen Schoen, DVM
Jim Waldsmith, DVM
Today, IAATH invites you to share the vision of the founding
council and members to help support and develop our international
network and data base of information and resources in the
animal therapy and healing fields. From massage therapy
to aromatherapy and behavior to veterinary medicine, IAATH
is the only integrated voice representing all disciplines
in animal health care. Thank you for joining us!
IAATH is an alliance of professional healers, therapists,
concerned companies and individuals dedicated to assisting
in the maintenance, balance and enhancement of the body,
mind and spirit of all animals. IAATH is a project of Congressional
District Programs Inc., a registered 501(c) (3) public
charity and your contributions are tax deductible.
IAATH is a foundation
based on diverse backgrounds, ideas, expertise and education.
We have come together as an alliance to share our vision
and raise consciousness. For more information about IAATH,
please download our brochure:
Download the IAATH brochure
(331K)
IAATH is committed to the continuing development of education,
communication, support and opportunities for all those interested
in animal health care. IAATH is a platform where all healing
modalities may come together to work for the welfare of
the animal kingdom. We advocate a strong code
of ethics for animal therapy professionals.
Throughout history new ideas and methods have challenged
traditional thinking. With the new millennium comes the
opportunity for growth and consciousness expansion. New
thoughts on what constitutes optimal health care have entered
mainstream thinking. Today we seek more complete and concerned
approaches to health care for ourselves and our animal companions.
The organization was formed in response to:
- The growing number of people in addition to veterinarians
who are seeking professions working with animals.
- The increased awareness and desire of animal guardians
(owners) to have choices and take part in their animal's
health care. Huge numbers of consumers are seeking non-veterinary
health assistance with their animal, and are demanding
a right to choose the type of health care they want.
- The need to address legalities in various countries
and jurisdictions concerning who has the right to provide
health care to animals. In many states and countries,
out-dated laws make it illegal for a veterinarian to refer
to non- veterinary health care professional such as a
chiropractor, behaviorist, nutritionist, acupuncturist,
or massage or physical therapist.
- Veterinarians who wish to find and refer to other health
care professionals.
- The need to determine competency in these emerging fields.
To assist in the
development of these new animal health care options and
their associated careers IAATH recognizes the need to:
- Define the language and careers of the new health care
fields.
- Educate the public, practitioners and students.
- Ensure the options for professional animal health.
- Provide a model for professional standards.
- Offer common ground for sharing information and research.
OUR GOAL
It is our vision that the future of animal health care will
be shared among veterinarians and other concurrent care
practitioners working together and providing the best possible
health options for animals in conjunction with the animal
guardians. In order for this to manifest, fear must be transmuted
into compassion and courage, animal health care professionals
must work together sharing experiences, data, questions,
and knowledge, and good information of health care options
must be easily available and clearly communicated to animal
guardians (consumers). To achieve this goal, IAATH is focusing
its current resources on developing an interactive membership
based web site that will allow people to easily share information,
search natural health care options, practitioners, and schools,
stay current on best available health care options and legislative
actions, and network with other organizations and interested
people.
EVENTS
IAATH has sponsored three international conferences and
will continue to support education of its members with periodic
conferences. We ask all members to help “get the word
out” by sharing information about IAATH and its goals.
ACTION
IAATH is entirely a volunteer organization and relies on
its members to become involved. There are several things
that you can do. Such as:
1. Become
Informed and Inform Others
The average animal guardian is not aware of many of the
health care options available, nor are they aware that
it is illegal in many areas to practice modalities if
you are not a veterinarian. The more knowledgeable you
become, the more you can share with others. Educating
both animal guardians and local veterinarians about your
concurrent practice can dissolve mis-trust and provide
a valuable resource to the animals. Educating the local
legislative representatives about your concerns can also
set things in motion.
2. Input Information on IAATH Web Site
The web site will only be as good as what people put on
it. Don’t assume others know what you know. Check
the site every week and input information on legislative
action, what other organizations are doing, upcoming conferences,
news brief, research studies, case study reviews, book
reviews, and any other information that you feel others
in IAATH would be interested in knowing.
3. Recruit Others to Join IAATH
By increasing membership, IAATH will
be able to offer more support to members, gain influence
with other organizations and governments, increase educational
opportunities, increase outreach and recognition for members,
and help to ensure “freedom of choice” for
animals and their people.
4. Communicate Message
Write articles for local papers or
magazines on animal health issues and the need to have
all options available, ie freedom of choice. Submit case
studies and research papers for other conferences and
scientific publication. The more people become educated,
the faster the “paradigm” will change. Send
press releases to newspapers and magazines about news
and issues that may affect local people and their animals.
Issues that may attract media support are such things
as:
- “Consumers” and Animal Guardians should
have the right to choose health care for their animals
from any practitioners they wish. Time has proven that
good treatments will always be in demand and those not
supported with success will die by the wayside. In most
states and countries it is illegal for non-veterinary
professionals to practice.
- Many health options like herbal support, massage,
and homeopathy were standard practices up until 1920s
when drugs were introduced. “Old ideas”
and treatments need to be brought back into mainstream
if they have proven results.
- Veterinary insurance often does not cover holistic
or natural modalities that the vet learned outside of
vet school, thus limiting the ability of many vets to
offer treatments or services outside their training.
They may not even refer to them.
- Vet schools reflect the training and paradigm of their
financial supporters. This has focused training for
vets on surgery and drug therapy. Schools should be
held accountable for educating vets in all the scientifically
supported modalities and informing students where they
can obtain further training in modalities not taught
at their school. The consumer believes vets are trained
to meet the letter of the law and when a vet does not
offer health options they are unfamiliar with, it limits
the animal’s ability to obtain the “best
available science” for diagnosis and/or treatment.
5. Form Task Teams With Other Local and/ or Regional Professionals
If it is currently
illegal in your region to practice, then changing the
laws is critical to the advancement of health care for
animals. (Refer to the new California “freedom to
practice” law for an example) You can not change
laws by yourself, but banning together with veterinarians
and other professional practitioners and approaching your
local representative with a good draft bill will usually
get results with little opposition. Focus on the benefit
to the consumers, the right for people to choose, and
the economic loss to the state if they do not allow the
practices. Collect and present good data representing
all sides of the issue with the benefit clearly identified.
The information
on this web site is an evolving attempt to address these
needs. Here you will find forms for joining,
an online
discussion group, information about "alternative"
therapies, a directory
of our sponsors and their areas of expertise and much more.
We welcome you.
Please consider
joining IAATH and becoming a sponsor
(The legal nature of our association makes it necessary
for us to call our members "sponsors"). Our sponsors
are health care practitioners, conscientious guardians,
educational institutions, healers and animal lovers of all
breeds. We welcome your support.
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