Ethics
The International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants believes that ethics in animal behavior consulting involves several key areas, including animal welfare, professional conduct, education, and compliance with applicable laws. As an international organization, the IAABC recognizes that cultural values and practices around animals vary. We support our members in promoting clear, high ethical standards and best practices across the profession.
All IAABC members and credential holders must follow the Standards of Practice and the Code of Ethics adopted in 2018. These standards build public trust in animal behavior consulting as a respected profession. The IAABC educates members on how to uphold these standards and enforces them through our ethics complaint process. All new members must read and agree to these requirements before joining.
Standards of PracticeCode of EthicsFile a ComplaintContact UsComplaints of Ethical Misconduct
The IAABC holds its members and credential holders to high standards of professionalism. To protect the public, our members, and the integrity of our credentials, we review complaints made against current or former IAABC members and credential holders. Anyone found in violation of the Code of Ethics may face sanctions. These may include a letter of reprimand, corrective action, suspension, or termination of membership or credentials, depending on the severity of the violation.
An ethics complaint can be filed by any person who has concerns regarding the actions of an IAABC Member. The IAABC requires Complainants to identify themselves by their full name. This, and any other identifying information, will not be shared by the IAABC with anyone outside of the Ethics Team and senior leadership. Thus, our complaint process is not anonymous but is confidential.
After the complaint is filed, the Ethics Director will gather information about the Respondent’s membership and credentialing status with the IAABC.
If the Respondent is a member, a Complaint Review Panel is formed which will determine whether the complaint indicates a potential violation, and a formal investigation is warranted. The preliminary review decision is based on factors including (but not limited to): strength of evidence, seriousness of alleged violation, Complainant’s familiarity with the situation, and the Complainant’s argument for how the Respondent’s actions constitute a violation of the stated section(s) of the Code of Ethics. The Complaint Review Panel may decide to elevate the complaint to a formal investigation or to dismiss the complaint. If the Complaint Review Panel decides to dismiss the complaint, the Ethics Director will contact the Complainant to let them know the complaint is closed, without notifying the Respondent.
If the Complaint Review Panel decides to elevate the complaint to a formal investigation, the Ethics Director next contacts the Respondent. The Respondent is notified of the complaint, the evidence, and the opportunity to offer their account and respond to questions from the Complaint Review Panel.
In the last step, the Complaint Review Panel convenes to determine whether a violation occurred. If a violation occurred, sanctions may be recommended. The Complaint Review Panel may recommend sanctions including reprimand, suspension, or revocation of membership and/or credentials.
The final determination is then sent for approval to the Board of Directors Executive Committee. The final determination and recommendations may be approved at this stage, or returned to the Complaint Review Panel for reconsideration.
If a Respondent does not agree with the outcome of the complaint, they may file an appeal to have the case re-evaluated by a Hearing Panel. A Hearing Panel consists of members of the Board of Directors and the Ethics Team.
If you are notified of a complaint against you, please remember that participation and cooperation in the process is a requirement of membership and credentialing. Any Member may be subject to termination of membership, revocation of certification, and/or other disciplinary actions if they fail to cooperate with the organization at any point from the inception of an ethical complaint through the completion of all proceedings regarding that complaint.