Kids and Dogs: A Cautionary Tail written by Veronica Sanchez, Chair of IAABCs Human-Animal Mutualism division. Published in Washington Parent, 2007.

JOURNAL OF VETERINARY BEHAVIOR, March - April, 2007/Vol. 2, No 2,

Dear Dr. Luescher:

The following letter was in response to the In Brief: Practice and Procedure, JVB: CAR, Vol 2, Issue 1, The role and limitations of trainers in behavior treatment and therapy, Andrew U. Luescher PhD, DACVB, DECVBM-CA, Gerrard Flannigan DVM, MSc, DACVB, Diane Frank DVM, DACVB, and Petra Mertens FTAV, CAAB, DECVBM-CA, DACVB

You asked about certification. The International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants, Inc. (IAABC) does have a formal certification process that is quite complicated and thorough. We have a 7-year plan that is meeting real-time need in the communities. We expect to publish our approach to education and certification as an innovative model for emerg ing professions. The next phase involves standardized testing as an additional measure of member competency. A board­certified veterinary behaviorist is spearheading that effort. The IAABC provides numerous learning opportunities as member benefits. You may be interested in the statement IAABC drafted on the profession of animal behavior consulting: http:// www.iaabc.org/profession_ABC.htm

In addition, you may be interested in reading our col­laborative consulting model statement: http://www.iaabc.org/

We are certain that veterinarians do not generally have the knowledge or skill base to diagnose and treat mental disorders; to assess, manage, and modify behavior prob­lems; or to resolve animal-human relationship issues. Even the 30,000 MD psychiatrists who fought for similar ground in the 1970s (and lost) did not recommend referral of mental disorders to general practitioners for diagnosis and treat­ment.

We hope your group will let the IAABC work coopera­tively with you to create a society that responds more humanely and competently to its companion animals with issues. There is room for thousands more like us.

Respectfully,

Lynn D. Hoover, MSW, CDBC
President & Founder, International Association of Animal
Behavior Consultants, Inc.
(IAABC) www. iaabc. org
Clinical member, American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy

JOURNAL OF VETERINARY BEHAVIOR, March - April, 2007/Vol. 2, No 2,

The profession of animal behavior consulting

Animal behavior consultants are professionals who are involved with the problems, needs, and changing patterns of animal–owner relationships.

Animal behavior consultants may:

• Educate clients on ways to prevent behavior problems and enhance their relationship s with companion animals;

• Troubleshoot management strategies to facilitate living optimally with companion animals;

• Make recommendations regarding behavior modification using state-of-the-art methods grounded in behavioral science; and

• Facilitate referrals to other professionals such as veterinarians and trainers.

Animal behavior consultants have diverse backgrounds. Some animal behavior consultants are also professional human health care providers, teachers, counselors, social workers, family therapists, psychologists, applied behavior analysts, animal trainers, veterinarians, veterinary behaviorists, and applied animal behaviorists.

In human health care, many professionals from various disciplines including counselors, social workers, family therapists, psychologists and psychiatrists, are available to help clients in need. Each of these professionals is qualified to provide a unique perspective on problems. These professionals may work independently or may collaborate, de­pending on the individual client or client system’s need. Similarly, in the case of animal behavior, animal behavior consultants may work independently or may collaborate with other professionals when necessary.

Animal behavior consultants are aware of laws in their states governing the practice of veterinary medicine. Unless an animal behavior consultant is also a licensed veterinarian, the animal behavior consultant does not practice veterinary medicine.

Animal behavior consultants are required to demonstrate competency in 5 core areas, including assessment and intervention strategies, counseling skills and social systems assessment, behavioral science, knowledge of animal behavior, and species-specific knowledge, to obtain certifica­tion through the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants. The field of animal behavior consulting is growing, and as a result, the IAABC is continually revising and improving its programs to meet this need.

International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants, Get A Shrink

Animal Smart by Steve Dale, Get Your Pet a Shrink article in USA Weekend, Stepember 16-18, 2005