At Hands of Grace we strive to support our clients in their quest for a holistic lifestyle for their pets.
By providing massage sessions, nutritional guidance, and arthritis management consulting, we provide pet owners with tools needed to give their pets their best life possible.
By providing massage sessions, nutritional guidance, and arthritis management consulting, we provide pet owners with tools needed to give their pets their best life possible.
Statement of Disclosure
I, Jennifer Manning-Paro, owner of Hands of Grace Animal Massage and Bodywork, am not a veterinarian; I do not offer medical advice, diagnose medical issues, perform surgery, or prescribe medications. I incorporate massage techniques with energetic modalities to provide individualized therapeutic bodywork to dogs and horses. Your dog or horse will receive gentle, compassionate care based on knowledge gained through professional courses and I will gladly provide class documentation should you desire them.
My role is that of a facilitator, assisting your dog/horse to attain and/or maintain a naturally healthy state. The specific results of the massage session(s) will be different for each animal. The possible beneficial effects of massage include: increased trust in handler; increased circulation of the blood and lymph; improved flexibility, body awareness, muscle efficiency, general well-being; stress reduction and emotional calming; pain relief through endorphin release; enhanced recovery from illness, injury, or surgery; and injury prevention.
Legal Requirements in the State of Tennessee for Animal Massage
TN - Tennessee Code Annotated Title 63 Professions Of The Healing Arts Chapter 12 Tennessee Veterinary Practice Act Part 2 Animal Massage Therapy
63-12-201. Part definitions.
As used in this part:
(1) “Animal massage therapy” means the manipulation of the soft tissues of the animal body with the intention of positively affecting the health and well-being of the animal. “Animal massage therapy” does not include the diagnosis, treatment, correction, alleviation, or prevention of any animal disease, illness, pain, deformity, defect, injury, or other physical or mental condition, or otherwise constitute the practice of veterinary medicine;
(2) “Certified animal massage therapist” means a person who qualifies for, and voluntarily obtains, certification under this part; and
(3) “Registered animal massage therapist” means a person who qualifies for, and voluntarily obtains, certification under this part.
63-12-202. Use of term “certified animal massage therapist” or “registered animal massage therapist” — Prohibitions.
(a) No person shall use the title “certified animal massage therapist” or “registered animal massage therapist” unless the person meets the requirements of this part.
(b) This part shall not prohibit any person from rendering or offering to render animal massage therapy services; provided, that a person who is not certified or registered under this part shall not use, or knowingly allow themselves to be identified by, the title “certified animal massage therapist” or “registered animal massage therapist”.
(c) Persons who hold themselves out as certified animal massage therapists or registered animal massage therapists without complying with § 63-12-203 are in violation of the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act, compiled in title 47, chapter 18, part 1.
63-12-203. Use of term “certified animal massage therapist” or “registered animal massage therapist” — Requirements.
In order to use the term “certified animal massage therapist” or “registered animal massage therapist”, a person must:
(1) Complete at least fifty (50) hours of training in anatomy and physiology, kinesiology, and pathologies in order to gain aptitude in preventing the delay of care to animals;
(2) Complete at least fifty (50) hours of supervised in-class hands-on work, which would include assessment and execution of bodywork skills being studied, benefits of massage, benefits of acupressure, and practice guidelines; and
(3) Take and pass an examination by the National Board of Certification for Animal Acupressure and Massage or a comparable examination that tests the aptitude in the course of training described in subdivisions (1) and (2).
(4) [Deleted by 2019 amendment.]
63-12-204. Liability insurance requirement.
A person practicing animal massage therapy shall obtain liability insurance in the amount of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) for the benefit of any person who is damaged because of the negligence of the person in the performance of animal massage therapy services.
TN - Tennessee Code Annotated Title 63 Professions Of The Healing Arts Chapter 12 Tennessee Veterinary Practice Act Part 2 Animal Massage Therapy
63-12-201. Part definitions.
As used in this part:
(1) “Animal massage therapy” means the manipulation of the soft tissues of the animal body with the intention of positively affecting the health and well-being of the animal. “Animal massage therapy” does not include the diagnosis, treatment, correction, alleviation, or prevention of any animal disease, illness, pain, deformity, defect, injury, or other physical or mental condition, or otherwise constitute the practice of veterinary medicine;
(2) “Certified animal massage therapist” means a person who qualifies for, and voluntarily obtains, certification under this part; and
(3) “Registered animal massage therapist” means a person who qualifies for, and voluntarily obtains, certification under this part.
63-12-202. Use of term “certified animal massage therapist” or “registered animal massage therapist” — Prohibitions.
(a) No person shall use the title “certified animal massage therapist” or “registered animal massage therapist” unless the person meets the requirements of this part.
(b) This part shall not prohibit any person from rendering or offering to render animal massage therapy services; provided, that a person who is not certified or registered under this part shall not use, or knowingly allow themselves to be identified by, the title “certified animal massage therapist” or “registered animal massage therapist”.
(c) Persons who hold themselves out as certified animal massage therapists or registered animal massage therapists without complying with § 63-12-203 are in violation of the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act, compiled in title 47, chapter 18, part 1.
63-12-203. Use of term “certified animal massage therapist” or “registered animal massage therapist” — Requirements.
In order to use the term “certified animal massage therapist” or “registered animal massage therapist”, a person must:
(1) Complete at least fifty (50) hours of training in anatomy and physiology, kinesiology, and pathologies in order to gain aptitude in preventing the delay of care to animals;
(2) Complete at least fifty (50) hours of supervised in-class hands-on work, which would include assessment and execution of bodywork skills being studied, benefits of massage, benefits of acupressure, and practice guidelines; and
(3) Take and pass an examination by the National Board of Certification for Animal Acupressure and Massage or a comparable examination that tests the aptitude in the course of training described in subdivisions (1) and (2).
(4) [Deleted by 2019 amendment.]
63-12-204. Liability insurance requirement.
A person practicing animal massage therapy shall obtain liability insurance in the amount of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) for the benefit of any person who is damaged because of the negligence of the person in the performance of animal massage therapy services.