Proven Strategies

person holding up two kittens

Caring for the People that Care for Animals: Prioritizing Staff Well-being in Animal Welfare

Mental health is an ongoing challenge for shelter and rescue staff, with the data confirming that many struggle with burnout and compassion fatigue. Roughly 90% of shelter staff reported high levels of compassion fatigue according to a 2023 Best Friends study titled "Quality of Life Assessment: A study of U.S. animal shelter staff well-being." The findings from this study highlight a critical need to recognize shelter staff as the first responders they are and connect them with the support they deserve.

As the demands of animal welfare continue to intensify, it becomes crucial to recognize and address the toll it can take on the people working tirelessly behind the scenes. Often, organizations make it the individual's responsibility to solve this challenge by providing self-care tips or meditation apps. While these are helpful tools, the vital topic of how to find staff well-being solutions organization-wide is often overlooked. 

Moderator: Licensed clinical psychologist Dr. Amanda Weiss, PsyD, who consulted with Best Friends staff on the 2023 study.  

Panelists:

  • Michael Keiley, Vice President of the Animal Protection Division for MSPCA-Angell in Massachusetts
  • Alisha Vianello, Executive Director of Gateway Pet Guardians in Illinois
  • Amanda Loellke, Adoption and Foster Manager of Gateway Pet Guardians in Illinois
  • Leah Craig Chumbley, Executive Director of Brother Wolf Animal Rescue in North Carolina

These experts share their experiences recognizing the need for change in their organizations to prioritize staff well-being and delve deep into the challenges along with practical solutions to achieve it in the webinar below. 

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