Uploaded March 2025 | Updated September 2026, 5 days ago
If you are watching for continuing education credit, please visit and watch on Maddie's University instead university.maddiesfund.org/products/maddies-insights-helping-the-helpers-improving-shelter-staff-well-being-on-demand
Maddie's® Insights is our ongoing webcast series with practical tips based on current research to help pets and people.
Speakers: Peter J. Wolf, Research and Policy Analyst, Best Friends Animal Society and Amanda Weiss, PsyD
Shelters and rescue groups have shown great resilience, finding innovative ways to save animals despite major challenges. However, many workers face burnout and compassion fatigue, leading some to leave the field.
In 2023, Best Friends conducted the largest U.S. survey on shelter staff well-being. Nearly half of respondents reported high compassion satisfaction, and most plan to stay in their roles. Yet, over half showed high burnout, and over 90% had high compassion fatigue, raising concerns about staff well-being and the sustainability of lifesaving efforts.
This presentation focuses on positive solutions and how shelters can learn from veterinary well-being practices to support staff and volunteers.
Learning Objectives:
Participants will learn about
(1) the difference between burnout and compassion fatigue
(2) the results of our well-being survey, and
(3) what we can learn from innovative veterinary well-being practices.
To access the resources from this call or to ask questions of our speakers, visit https://maddies.fund/MIwebcast03132025
If you are watching for continuing education credit, please visit and watch on Maddie's University instead university.maddiesfund.org/products/maddies-insights-helping-the-helpers-improving-shelter-staff-well-being-on-demand
Maddie's® Insights is our ongoing webcast series with practical tips based on current research to help pets and people.
Speakers: Peter J. Wolf, Research and Policy Analyst, Best Friends Animal Society and Amanda Weiss, PsyD
Shelters and rescue groups have shown great resilience, finding innovative ways to save animals despite major challenges. However, many workers face burnout and compassion fatigue, leading some to leave the field.
In 2023, Best Friends conducted the largest U.S. survey on shelter staff well-being. Nearly half of respondents reported high compassion satisfaction, and most plan to stay in their roles. Yet, over half showed high burnout, and over 90% had high compassion fatigue, raising concerns about staff well-being and the sustainability of lifesaving efforts.
This presentation focuses on positive solutions and how shelters can learn from veterinary well-being practices to support staff and volunteers.
Learning Objectives:
Participants will learn about
(1) the difference between burnout and compassion fatigue
(2) the results of our well-being survey, and
(3) what we can learn from innovative veterinary well-being practices.
To access the resources from this call or to ask questions of our speakers, visit https://maddies.fund/MIwebcast03132025
