This section contains important membership information, including the Membership Charter, the IAHAIO by-laws, Form 990 and the IAHAIO accountants.

The IAHAIO Member Charter

IAHAIO encourages all member organizations to adhere to the Member Charter on joining IAHAIO and annually, when dues are paid.  We are looking to encourage members to adopt our guidelines, position statements and declarations to build a consistent approach globally in the field, where all IAHAIO members are working to the same quality standards in the field of AAI and HAI.

The Member Charter also encourages members to keep IAHAIO updated on any change to contact details and to ensure that annual dues are paid in a timely way. Fees are essential to the running of IAHAIO and enable us to be productive and supportive of our members and the field more generally.

We encourage our members to share this information widely with any individual members they have.

All members of IAHAIO are encouraged to:

1.Further and promote IAHAIO’s mission and goals.

2. Adopt IAHAIO’s “One Health, One Welfare” interdisciplinary approach in carrying out animal-assisted interventions (AAI), that the health and wellbeing of humans and animals are interconnected, and that it would be unethical to carry out any AAI with the goal of improving a patient’s welfare while compromising the wellbeing of the animals involved.

3. Follow, whenever applicable, the guidelines as set out in the:

  • IAHAIO White Paper (using the correct definitions)
  • IAHAIO International Guidelines on Care, Training and Welfare Requirements for Equines in Equine Assisted Services and the guidelines for other animals in AAI
  • IAHAIO Declarations and IAHAIO Position Statements

4. Only use the IAHAIO Member Logo while the member organization remains a member of IAHAIO and in the prescribed manner.

5. To pay for the stipulated membership fees promptly, within the timescale specified in the invoice. Membership will only be activated/renewed upon payment of the stipulated membership fees.

6. Represent IAHAIO  in a professional manner through:

  • Providing services with honesty and respect for all parties involved
  • Promotion of evidence-based methods in AAI practice
  • Minding the environmental impact of the services provided
  • Supporting the principles of equality, diversity and inclusion
  • Valuing and respecting the privacy of beneficiaries involved
  • Maintaining professionalism, and sharing knowledge and practice with other colleagues within the industry

7. Update IAHAIO immediately of any change in our organization’s contact details, status or range of activities.

8. Adhere to the membership terms and conditions.

The IAHAIO by-laws

IAHAIO is a non-profit organization registered in the United States of America. Our by-laws are our internal operating rules, defining how the Board functions, how officers are elected and meetings are held.  They can be accessed here.

Form 990

Each year IAHAIO is required to complete a United States Internal Revenue Service (IRS) From 990 which provides the public with information about non-profit organizations that are tax-exempt. It provides information about how the organization is structured, revenue and expenditure, how leaders are compensated and how activities align with the organization’s mission. Form 990 for IAHAIO can be accessed here.

IAHAIO accountants

IAHAIO employs the services of accounting firm DeHaan, in Seattle, Washington, in the USA who process and review all transactions, assist in the preparation of year-end statement of activities, and balance sheets and ensure we comply with tax regulations.