Mission Statement
Who we are: The International Association for Animal Trauma and Recovery (IAATR) is a group of professionals working to understand trauma in animals and facilitate their recovery through methods that recognize the many facets of trans-species psychology—i.e. the study of mind and body across species.
Our objective: The Association aims to support the recovery and well-being of individual animals and animal communities suffering from physical and psychological trauma and distress.
Our inspiration: The founding of IAATR is compelled by the need to care for increasing numbers of animals who are experiencing anthropogenic trauma. These include companion, farmed, and wild animals living freely, in captivity, or in the care of human guardians.
Our Guiding Principles: All animals, including humans, have individual and psycho-social needs and are vulnerable to psychological trauma. The experience and legacies of violence transcend species lines and are shared by all who experience it. The relational nature of trauma and its recovery necessitates congruency between theory and practice. Theory and practice engaged to prevent animal trauma and support recovery therefore requires ethical congruency to achieve our key objective: the healing of mind, body, and spirit across species.
Our activities: Through various media and venues, IAATR seeks to
- Support an integrated international community of human and animal health care providers, sanctuary professionals, wildlife biologists, environmental researchers, and other professionals for ongoing development of interdisciplinary research, practice, and education
- Develop programs and practices that alleviate the causes and consequences of trauma in all species, and
- Support recovery of individuals as well as communities.