August 6, 2013
Categories: Coalition Building and Advocacy, Adoption, Evolution of the No-Kill Movement

MFHRIMG_3322Turning euthanasia stress into adoption celebration will improve the morale of shelter workers while helping save the animals in our care.

Sheltering literature is full of descriptions and prescriptions for helping shelter workers cope with euthanasia stress. These range from rotating the workers between adoption and euthanasia room duties, to counseling, meditation and support groups.1

At Maddie’s InstituteSM, we believe that the best and most effective way to eliminate the stress of euthanizing healthy and treatable pets is to re-direct the focus of employees and volunteers toward implementing those programs proven to save animal lives in shelters.

This obviously will benefit the animals whose lives will be saved, but it will also benefit shelter workers, who can replace the stress and grief of ending pets’ lives with the joy of seeing them become part of a loving family.

For example, Washoe County, NV, is a community where more than 90 percent of the pets who enter the shelter system find homes — 92 percent of dogs and 92 percent of cats in 2012.

One of the region’s shelters, the Nevada Humane Society, celebrates each adoption with the ringing of a bell.

Sometimes, they even dance.

How’s that for stress reduction?

1. Baran, B. E., Allen, J. A., Rogelberg, S. G., Spitzmüller, C.,
DiGiacomo, N. A., Webb, J. B., et al. (2009). Euthanasia-related strain
and coping strategies in animal shelter employees. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 235, 83-88.

Rogelberg SG, DiGiacomo N, Reeve CL, Spitzmuller C, Clark OL, et al. (2007) What shelters can do about euthanasia-related stress: an examination of recommendations from those on the front line. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science,  2007;10(4):331-47.

Rogelberg SG, Reeve CL, Spitzmüller C, DiGiacomo N, Clark OL, Teeter L, Walker AG, Starling PG, Carter NT. (2007) Impact of euthanasia rates, euthanasia practices, and human resource practices on employee turnover in animal shelters. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 2007 Mar 1;230(5):713-9.