Animal Physical Therapy Coalition - APTC

05/21/2026

05/19/2026

Nice interview article about our Coalition's president, Karen Atlas Atlas Rehabilitation for Canines - ARC

Today we'd like to introduce you to Karen Atlas. Hi Karen, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.My name is Karen Atlas, and healing dogs is my jam.I’ve been a licensed physical therapist for nearly 30 years, originally working in human outpatient orthopedics and neurology. But abou

05/15/2026

Join the movement!
Do you have an animal related business or organization and are aligned with our mission to increase access to care for animals in California? DM us!
There is strength in numbers and we will never stop advocating for policies that help animals!

05/05/2026

Our Coalition continues to gain momentum 💥

We’re excited to welcome The Athletic Dog and Dr. Sherman Canapp as the newest supporters of the Animal Physical Therapy Coalition!

As a leader in veterinary medicine who truly understands the power of collaboration, Dr. Canapp recognizes the importance of increasing access to care...and that includes access to qualified animal physical therapists.
Right now in California, veterinarians are restricted to referring only to other veterinarians.

That means they are legally unable to refer to other highly trained, qualified non-vet animal healthcare professionals...even when it’s in the best interest of the animal!

We believe there’s a better way.
✅ Empower veterinarians to refer (or provide medical clearance) to qualified animal PTs
✅ Expand access to essential animal PT care
✅ Strengthen collaboration across veterinary and physical therapy professionals

The truth is…
Veterinarians want it. PTs want it. RVTs want it. Pet owners want it.
So let’s do it.

📣 It’s time to pass common-sense legislation that puts animals first.

Join us. Be part of the movement.

04/26/2026

Our Coalition continues to strengthen 💪🐾

And if anyone knows about strengthening… it’s Anna Lee Sanders, CPCFT, CSCC, founder of Canine Conditioning Coach!

We’re proud to welcome Canine Conditioning Coach to our ever-growing Coalition of supporters 🙌

We are a Coalition committed to increasing access to care so more animals can receive the essential physical therapy they need to live longer, stronger, and with less pain.

Our goal is simple:

➡️ Better outcomes through collaborative healthcare
➡️ A higher quality of life for the animals we serve

Right now in California, veterinarians can ONLY refer to other veterinarians.
🎯 But we believe they should have a choice to refer or provide medical clearance to a qualified Animal Physical Therapist (non-veterinary professional). Allowing veterinarians to refer to another license type besides a veterinarian would expand safe access to care.

The access to care crisis is dire in California...there are just not enough veterinarians to care for all the animals in need. Increasing access to animal physical therapists can help shoulder some of that burden. The veterinarians want it, the animal owners want it, the physical therapists want it. Let's do it! We are more united than ever!

The path forward is clear: legislation.
Let’s keep building momentum.
In it together, for the animals and people who love them.

04/18/2026

This! Way to go, Texas advocates!

04/17/2026

Way to advocate Texas!
Voices were heard! The potential deleterious rule draft changes were removed from the agenda! If Texas Vet Board would have moved forward with their proposed changes, then they risked making it harder for animals to get the care they need by non-veterinary animal healthcare professionals.
But you guys did it! You took the important action needed to stop it in its tracks!!
Look how much we can accomplish together!

AnnouncementsChapter 571 and 573 rule drafts will not be presented at the April 21, 2026, Board meeting Chapter 571 and 573 rule drafts will not be presented at the April 21, 2026, Board meeting Date Posted: April 15 2026 at 1:52pmThe Texas Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners announces that propos...

04/09/2026

We’re excited to share that the Animal Physical Therapy Coalition (APTC) continues to grow and build meaningful momentum.

APTC is a grassroots coalition comprised of over 50 entities, including animal welfare organizations, leading educational providers including veterinarians, RVTs, and licensed physical therapists...all united by a shared mission to expand access to safe, qualified animal PT.

We’re proud to have earned the trust of legislators and companies alike, and we remain committed to creating the kind of collaborative, common-sense change that benefits animals, providers, and the public.

Please join us in welcoming Onlinepethealth to the Coalition!

Their commitment to education and connection will help further the cause.

We’re grateful to Onlinepethealth for supporting this mission—and to all of you who continue to support this work.
Together, we keep pushing forward.

03/12/2026

Interested in the public comments made by Karen Atlas and Dr. Jenny Moe during the Joint Committee (Senate and Assembly) on Business and Professions during the Sunset Review Oversight Hearing of the Physical Therapy Board of California? Listen in to their 2 minute testimonies from yesterday.
Keeping the conversation moving forward. 💪🙌

Also here, is the comment made by California Veterinary Medical Association's lobbyist...same song and dance for that one..."the current structure has been working for many years and see no reason to change it now." 🙄. Of course they don't see a reason to change it...they have the market effectively monopolized through regulation...just the way they like it. It's never about the animals for them...follow the money. (granted, that is literally what a trade association is for, so they are just 'doing their job' to protect the vet profession. It's just a bad look for veterinarians during a time when the profession is under such public scrutiny.)

The Animal Physical Therapy Coalition is proud to the voice of the veterinarians and RVT's who wish to collaborate and do what is best for their animal patients. We continue to strengthen together.