Video: Should government get involved in pet massages?

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SEATTLE - If you're looking for a career change, here's something to consider: the growing field of animal massage.

One school says, therapists command $45 to $100 an hour.

But the question is this: How involved should state government get in regulating this industry?

Shanahan, a Jack Russell terrier is nine years old and has a heart condition and epilepsy.

"All of the same types of benefits that humans experience from massage are felt by the animals as well," said Lola Michelin, Northwest School of Animal Massage.

She says in the past five years, the profession has taken off.

"It helps to improve circulation, for dogs it can improve digestion," she said.

Michelin says whether it's your dog or a race horse, you don't want just anyone massaging animals.

This is why the state legislature approved a new program to license animal message practitioners, requiring a certain amount of training and an exam.

But is the state going too far?

"What we're trying to get policy makers in Olympia to focus on high-priority items and reduce the amount of activities they do in low-priority things," said Paul Guppy, Washington Policy Center.

The Washington Policy Center has identified dozens of programs that it says are simply a waste of state tax dollars – from licensing pet massage therapists to whether we really need inspections for Christmas trees.

With the state facing a $2.4 billion shortfall, the conservative think tank is hoping to make the point that there's fat in the budget. But each program has its supporters.

"The taxpayers have said they want the services available for their pets, and they're willing to pay for the services. I think they're also willing to pay to know that their providers are legitimized," said Michelin.

Fees from animal massage licenses are supposed to cover the cost of administering the program.

But the policy center says: Why can't the animal massage industry regulate itself? Why does government keep getting bigger?

"How detailed can the reach of the government become? OK? And that there's a point when it's actually more effective for a profession to police," said Guppy.

Strangely enough, the licensing program has not gotten off the ground. The governor approved it, but the legislature never approved the fees.

So for all the controversy, the law is on the books, but in reality, there's still no way to get a specific license to massage animals.