The Price of Empathy

As pet parents, we often view the professionals caring for our animals as unsung heroes, tirelessly tending to our pets' needs. But behind the scenes, many in the pet services industry, including veterinarians, pet groomers, trainers, and pet sitters, are silently battling an invisible challenge – compassion fatigue.

What is Compassion Fatigue?

Compassion fatigue, sometimes referred to as "secondary traumatic stress," occurs when the emotional strain of caring for others starts to take a toll on a person’s well-being. It often happens after prolonged exposure to suffering, distressing situations, or dealing with difficult cases. While compassion fatigue is often associated with healthcare workers, it's just as prevalent in the pet industry.

How Compassion Fatigue Affects the Pet Industry

For veterinary professionals, the pressure of caring for sick or injured animals day in and day out can be emotionally draining. This is especially true when faced with difficult decisions, such as euthanasia or long-term care for terminally ill pets. But it's not just vets who are affected. Pet groomers, trainers, sitters, and other pet services professionals are also susceptible to this condition.

Many of these workers form close emotional bonds with the pets they care for, and when pets suffer or pass away, it can deeply affect their mental health. They often witness painful situations, from abused animals needing rehabilitation to seeing pets being surrendered due to financial difficulties or behavioural issues. These experiences can weigh heavily on someone who has chosen this line of work because of their love for animals.

Signs of Compassion Fatigue in Animal Care Professionals

Like any form of burnout, compassion fatigue manifests in various ways. Common symptoms include:

• Emotional Exhaustion: Feeling drained, overwhelmed, or numb after a day’s work.
• Detachment or Cynicism: Becoming emotionally distant or losing enthusiasm for the job.
• Physical Symptoms: Fatigue, headaches, or difficulty sleeping.
• Decreased Empathy: Difficulty connecting with pets or their owners emotionally.
• Decline in Job Satisfaction: A lack of joy or satisfaction from the work that once brought fulfilment.
   

The Importance of Self-Care and Support

While the emotional challenges of working in animal care are inevitable, it’s crucial for professionals to find ways to protect their mental health and well-being. The demands of the job, coupled with administrative tasks and financial pressures, can quickly contribute to stress and burnout. Here are a few strategies to combat compassion fatigue, with some added support from services like PetBubble:

1. Setting Boundaries: It’s essential to establish clear boundaries between work and personal life. Taking regular breaks, limiting hours, and avoiding overcommitment can help. PetBubble can help establish this by offering streamlined administrative and scheduling tools that make it easier for pet care professionals to manage their time and avoid taking on too many clients at once. This can help them maintain better work-life balance and reduce stress related to overwork.
2. Seeking Support: Talking to colleagues who understand the challenges or seeking professional help from therapists specialising in animal-related compassion fatigue can provide relief.
3. Engaging in Relaxation and Mindfulness: Practices like meditation, yoga, or simply taking time to unwind can reduce stress and prevent burnout. By reducing the time spent on administrative tasks, PetBubble allows professionals to free up time by simplifying scheduling and operational systems so that you can give yourself more time for self-care and mindfulness, improving overall well-being.
4. Celebrating the Wins: Focusing on the positive outcomes, such as a pet’s recovery or the success of a training programme, can reinvigorate one’s passion for the work. By handling the behind-the-scenes logistics, PetBubble helps professionals focus more on their clients and their work with pets, allowing them to celebrate the meaningful successes without feeling bogged down by administrative burdens.
    

How Pet Parents Can Help

As pet parents, we can play a role in alleviating some of the emotional burdens felt by those who care for our pets. Simple acts of kindness, like showing appreciation, being patient, and offering positive feedback, can go a long way in boosting a professional's morale.

Additionally, understanding that these workers are human too, and respecting their boundaries and time, can help reduce the pressure they experience on a daily basis. Compassionate interactions, both with our pets and the professionals who care for them, can create a healthier, more supportive environment for everyone involved.

A Call for More Awareness

Compassion fatigue is often overlooked in the animal care industry, but it is real, and it’s affecting more people than we realise. By raising awareness and encouraging self-care and support systems, we can help those who dedicate their lives to animals continue their vital work without sacrificing their own health and happiness.

At PetBubble, we believe in not only providing excellent care for pets but also supporting the people who care for them. Whether you’re a pet boarder, a pet groomer, or a pet parent, taking steps toward recognising and addressing compassion fatigue can help create a more balanced and compassionate pet care ecosystem.

Sources

Figley, C. R. & Roop, R. G., 2006. Compassion Fatigue in the Animal Care Community [ebook]. Humane Society University. Available at: https://www.wellbeingintlstudiesrepository.org/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1004&context=ebooks [Accessed 31 March 2025].
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Rohlf, V. I., 2018. Interventions for occupational stress and compassion fatigue in animal care professionals—A systematic review. Traumatology, 24(3), pp.186–192. https://doi.org/10.1037/trm0000144
Scotney, R., 2016. Occupational Stress & Compassion Fatigue: The effects on workers in animal-related occupations [PhD thesis]. University of Queensland. Available at: https://www.core.ac.uk/download/pdf/83984686.pdf [Accessed 31 March 2025].
Scotney, R. L., McLaughlin, D. & Keates, H. L., 2019. An investigation of the prevalence of compassion fatigue, compassion satisfaction and burnout in those working in animal-related occupations using the Professional Quality of Life (ProQoL) Scale. The Veterinary Nurse, 10(5), pp.276–284.
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Signal, T., Casey, A. & Taylor, N., 2023. Does the talk match the numbers? ProQOL and compassion fatigue in animal rescue. Traumatology, 29(2), pp.174–182. https://doi.org/10.1037/trm0000384