Animal associations welcome professional register following DEFRA review

Animal associations welcome professional register following DEFRA review

Animal therapy organisations and training providers have announced their intention to launch the Animal Health Professions Register further to a DEFRA review of the regulations governing animal complementary therapies.

Since the inception of animal complementary therapies, the industry has exploded with a growing number of different therapies and modalities available to the animal owner. In recent years, there has been a review of the regulations governing animal complementary therapies and discussion on how animal owners can be fully informed about the therapist they choose. Twenty separate animal therapy associations, representing approximately 75% of the musculoskeletal therapists working in the UK, and a similar number of training providers, have come together to develop the Animal Health Professions Register. The aim of this Register is to make all levels of therapy accountable and clarify training and treatment type for owners and veterinary surgeons. A statement has been released from all the groups involved:

“As a result of the last 3.5 years of meetings conducted by the animal / veterinary and musculoskeletal groups in light of the Review of Minor Procedures Regime (RMPR), initiated by DEFRA, we are delighted to announce the intention to launch a new, industry-representative voluntary Register, the Animal Health Professions Register (AHPR). This Register will include a wide range of animal health professions, categorised into subgroups.” “The purpose of the Register will be to address the outcomes of DEFRA’s RMPR which indicated that there are confusions in the market for owners and veterinary surgeons when choosing animal health practitioners.  This Register will be developed to ensure animal welfare by providing a list of practitioners with appropriate qualifications which have been externally verified and accredited, appropriate insurance, ongoing commitment to professional development and recourse for accountability.” Further details on the registration criteria and application dates will follow, including a provision for Grandparenting.

Suzanne Ashton

Suzanne Ashton, Founder of Everything Horse (Est, 2012), has a BA Hons in Marketing Management and a Diploma in Equine Science. Suzanne has ridden and owned horses all her life and has twelve years of experience in marketing, writing, design, SEO, and website creation.