People who work with animals in welfare, shelter, veterinary, and advocacy roles face high rates of moral injury and compassion fatigue that requires systemic recognition and support.
The wellbeing of animal welfare workers is inseparable from the welfare of the animals they work to protect. Burned-out advocates, traumatised shelter staff, and morally injured veterinarians cannot do their best work for animals. Organisations that fail to address compassion fatigue and moral injury lose experienced staff, reduce their effectiveness, and contribute to a culture in which suffering for the sake of animals is normalised. Supporting the wellbeing of welfare workers is not a distraction from animal welfare work but an integral part of sustaining the capacity for it.