July 9th, 2011
Recently the AAAOR has had to consider making some changes to our Plan for Practitioners. Although this has been a little disheartening with all of the hard work that’s gone into devising the original plan, we feel, that we are now on the right track.
We had originally intended to create Guidelines and Standards for each modality of Complimentary Therapies including a Code of Conduct and Disciplinary Procedures. The Disciplinary Board was to be comprised of Animal Owner and Practitioner Members. This process would have allowed us the opportunity to provide governance to the filed of non-vet Complimentary Therapies as well as to set the standard for Practitioners and courses requiring reasonable education hours in the perspective fields.
The main issue that was voiced by Practitioners, was that these professionals were very concerned with being regulated or disciplined by an Animal Owners Association.
In continuing to promote the involvement of practitioners, and your right to choose these complimentary therapies, we were required to adapt our plan. We have chosen to keep the Code of Conduct as we feel that these are reasonable expectations to have of our Practitioner members and instead of a “Disciplinary Committee” we will form a “Conflict Resolution Committee” as required, to help mediate situations that may arise between out Practitioner members and their clients.
We allow ALL Practitioners access to membership with the association and with the funds received by membership we will create a sister association for Practitioners that will allow regulations and governance for these professionals by the professionals. The AAAOR has always been an association that acts to inform and educate the public and attempts to protect the Animal Owners Right to choose, and we feel it should continue to do just that.
All paid practitioners will be able to obtain insurance (when it is available) through the AAAOR and will be displayed on the “AAAOR Therapist & Practitioner Members” page on the website, with their education/training and a bio. Course Outlines that are submitted, will be shown in detail as to what education and hours they include as well on the “Course Outlines” page. The AAAOR will act in a way to make the industry as transparent as possible which will support and promote the Animal Owner in having the ultimate say as to WHO works on their animal and WHAT therapies will be applied.
There will be no endorsement of practitioners by the AAAOR and no standards of education or practice for each modality, other than what is included on the Code of Conduct.
We have always felt that a separate Practitioners association would eventually be required for legitimacy of these Standards and Guidelines, but knew we were short on time. Our Plan for Practitioners through the AAAOR we felt would work in the in term. No longer convinced of this, we feel we should move forward with the sister association now. We also feel, with our goals clearly defined, as an Association of Animal Owners and Practitioners we will still be able to approach the legislature in an effort to maintain our rights to choose AND to practice, as the two go hand in hand. Without the support of the Animal Owners AND Practitioners we are working towards an unobtainable goal.
Please be sure to become a Member by visiting the “Membership” page as all of this information will be displayed on the Members Only pages and will be available to you once you log in.
Thank you for your patience as we complete these changes.