Advocates working on animal welfare face high risks of vicarious trauma and burnout that can undermine long-term movement effectiveness.
The sustainability of the animal welfare movement depends on the wellbeing of its advocates. Workers and volunteers who are repeatedly exposed to animal suffering without adequate psychological support develop trauma responses that impair both their effectiveness and their own lives. The animals they advocate for are poorly served by a movement that burns through its most dedicated members. Investing in advocate psychological support, peer networks, and emotional processing practices is not a luxury but a movement effectiveness requirement.