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.
Complaints 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.
How the Complaint Process Works
1. Filing a Complaint
An ethics complaint can be filed by anyone who has concerns about the actions of an IAABC member. Complainants must identify themselves by their full name. This and any other identifying information will not be shared outside of the Ethics Team and senior leadership. Our complaint process is not anonymous, but it is confidential.
2. Administrative Checks
After the complaint is filed, the Ethics Director gathers information about the Respondent's membership and credentialing status with the IAABC.
3. Preliminary Review
If the Respondent is a member, a Complaint Review Panel is formed to decide whether the complaint indicates a potential violation and whether a formal investigation is warranted. This decision is based on factors including (but not limited to) the strength of evidence, the seriousness of the alleged violation, the Complainant's familiarity with the situation, and the Complainant's argument for how the Respondent's actions violate the stated section(s) of the Code of Ethics.
The panel may elevate the complaint to a formal investigation or dismiss it. If the complaint is dismissed, the Ethics Director will let the Complainant know it is closed, without notifying the Respondent.
4. Respondent Notification
If the complaint is elevated to a formal investigation, the Ethics Director contacts the Respondent. The Respondent is notified of the complaint and the evidence, and is given the opportunity to share their account and respond to questions from the Complaint Review Panel.
5. Final Determination
The Complaint Review Panel meets to determine whether a violation occurred. If it did, the panel may recommend sanctions, including reprimand, suspension, or revocation of membership and/or credentials.
6. Approval
The final determination is sent to the Board of Directors Executive Committee for approval. It may be approved at this stage or returned to the Complaint Review Panel for reconsideration.
7. Appeals
If a Respondent does not agree with the outcome, they may file an appeal to have the case re-evaluated by a Hearing Panel made up of members of the Board of Directors and the Ethics Team.
8. Cooperation
If you are notified of a complaint against you, 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 action if they fail to cooperate at any point, from the start of an ethics complaint through the completion of all proceedings.