Those who work to improve animal welfare often experience compassion fatigue from sustained exposure to suffering. Supporting welfare workers and advocates is essential for movement sustainability.
The human welfare dimension of animal welfare work is often overlooked. People who work directly with suffering animals — in shelters, veterinary practices, rescue organisations, and research facilities — are at elevated risk of secondary traumatic stress and compassion fatigue. This affects their own wellbeing and, ultimately, their capacity to continue welfare work. Animal welfare organisations that support their staff and volunteers with structured supervision, peer support, and mental health resources are more sustainable. The effective altruism community has been slow to address this, despite the link between advocate welfare and long-term movement effectiveness. The movement needs advocates who last years, not months.