Rescue Workers And Suicide?

[tdierikx]

I ended up redirecting my passion for animals to taking photos of zoo animals... and am now also studying to be a zookeeper. I think I've finally found what I want to do when I grow up... *grin*

Mind you, I learned a hell of a lot, and got a wealth of hands on experience that will help me with my new career choice to no end.

The biggest thing I learned about myself during my years in rescue is that I CAN handle the quality/quantity issue that occasionally arises. The biggest compliment I ever got was that I could be "dispassionate with compassion"... I didn't tell that person that I'd do my crying in private... for each and every soul I had to help to the Bridge.

I won't say that I came out of the experience completely undamaged though.

Much kudos to those who live and breathe rescue year after year... you are amazing people.

T.

[Kirislin]

I read somewhere that there's a high suicide rate in veterinarians too.

[mita]

Team Dog is looking to run some compassion fatigue workshops for the rescue/shelter community hopefully this year. I can pop back in and update the thread with the info when it's organised if anyone is interested?

Mel, workshops like that would be so valuable.

University of Qld used to have a research interest in homeless companion animals in shelters & rescue.

In their newsletter, 'Paws for News', Issue 6/Summer 2008, they wrote:

'This is a heartbreaking job, and one with significant human toll. Post-traumatic stress syndrome is suffered by as many as 50% of shelter staff faced with this situation on a daily basis, leaving them with severe long-term effects and health issues.'

I'd imagine the impact might be worse for people working in private rescue, without at least some cushioning of a variety of people handling the everyday challenges.

[Maddy]

It's a huge problem in the industry, and it's partially fueled in my opinion by the idea that 'if you love animals you'll work tirelessly day in day out for no financial gain, cut off everything else in your life and focus completely on rescue'. It's not healthy and it makes it so hard for people to say no or stand up for their own emotional wellbeing and self-care.

Team Dog is looking to run some compassion fatigue workshops for the rescue/shelter community hopefully this year. I can pop back in and update the thread with the info when it's organised if anyone is interested?

Absolutely this.

I now only take the occasional dog and the expectations still piss me off. Newer rescuers (those who are all still fired up with that immediate anger and drive to Make Positive Changes) tend to be the ones putting that pressure on because they've yet to realise that quality is what matters, not quantity. I could easily cram ten dogs into my backyard and scrape by on the cheapest food, with each dog getting minimal human contact or.. I could have one or two foster dogs, they can eat high quality food, get lots of my time and attention for grooming, training and assessment and then go on to be easy to rehome and very successful in their new homes. I might rehome less dogs but my bounce rate.. incredibly low.

Rushing around, trying to save everything with no regard for the actual welfare of the animals is where a lot of rescuers seem to come unstuck.

[Diana R]

This is a topic really close to my heart, so I thought I'd post a couple of links here for those who are interested in the topic or would like to start up a discussion about Compassion Fatigue with welfare groups (and animal management professionals!) that they know or work with.

The Animal Sheltering Magazine website has a lot of great resources about CF, including this article written by Doug Fakkema (he's one of the pioneers in CF management in animal welfare workers): http://www.animalsheltering.org/resources/magazine/mar_apr_2001/four_phases.html

Here's his website http://dougfakkema.com/articles.html

There's also a project/website specifically designed for combatting CF called the Compassion Fatigue Awareness Project http://www.compassionfatigue.org/pages/petsmart.html

It's really a topic that we should have front and centre on the agenda in Australia, as it's a welfare problem for both the people directly affected AND the animals they work with. There's also many links between compassion fatigue and workers' (or vollies') struggling to deal with the public in an empathetic and effective way - proactive and effective management of CF on an organisational level provides a solid basis on which to build a progressive and flexible environment.

[HazyWal]

I think some rescuers are clearly disturbed before they start rescuing. Rescue seems to attract some unstable personalities who need to bolster their egos by showing the world what good people they are. If you read some of the Rescue facebook pages some posters seem to be in their own little world and have their own mission to save everything and to attack anyone who disagrees with them. It's quite scary.

Please I said 'some' so don't jump on me. I know that many rescues are well run by very stable responsible people and they do a great job.

I for one will not jump on you...welcome to the world of greyhound rescue you've hit the nail right on the head there.

[mita]

Diana, thanks for that information & those links. I totally agree with your post.

Sars, I totally understand that you stress you are only talking about 'some people' when you mention that there may be emotional disturbance leading some to take up rescue.

But I'd like to say that there are inherent features within work for homeless & needy animals, that can cause serious stress across the normal range of persons. The first step in preventing or dealing with such stresses is to recognize that it can be plain human to go at the knees in such settings. Unless it's managed for.... as others have already suggested. And the last thing the average volunteer, feeling the bite of these stresses, needs to be told, is that they entered the work because of some underlying emotional disturbance.

So Mel's plan of Compassion Fatigue workshops is an excellent idea. Compassion Fatigue is found in helping professions dealing with humans, too.

Edited May 1, 2015 by mita

[BarbedWire]

Diana, thanks for that information & those links. I totally agree with your post.

Sars, I totally understand that you stress you are only talking about 'some people' when you mention that there may be emotional disturbance leading some to take up rescue.

But I'd like to say that there are inherent features within work for homeless & needy animals, that can cause serious stress across the normal range of persons. The first step in preventing or dealing with such stresses is to recognize that it can be plain human to go at the knees in such settings. Unless it's managed for.... as others have already suggested. And the last thing the average volunteer, feeling the bite of these stresses, needs to be told, is that they entered the work because of some underlying emotional disturbance.

So Mel's plan of Compassion Fatigue workshops is an excellent idea. Compassion Fatigue is found in helping professions dealing with humans, too.

Perhaps if they can't take someone questioning their motives they are too fragile to be doing rescue anyway which is my point that some shouldn't be doing rescue.

So much of what I see on rescue facebook pages is just ego stroking which some rescuers seem to thrive on. Some of the emotional irrational posts are also very upsetting. For these rescuers (and they are only some) all dogs in pounds are there because they have been abused (which is just not the case) and they need to be saved. One has to wonder where some of those poor dogs at the pounds eventually end up when rescuers save them with no plans beyond walking out the door of the pound with the dog, while congratulating themselves on having saved a poor abused dog from being pts and anticipating all the ego boosting accolades when they can announce that the dog is safe.

Edited May 1, 2015 by sarsaparilla

[BarbedWire]

I should also say that I am impressed by those posters on this thread who have recognized that it was time they moved on from rescue and let someone else take over when they were finding the work too demanding. Unstable rescuers also think they are irreplaceable.

[Diana R]

I'm pretty sure that anyone who's worked or volunteered in companion animal welfare/rescue will know a few people who fit the description that you gave above, Sarsaparilla. It's hard to draw a solid line between people who are honestly suffering from burnout in some capacity, or have developed a destructive or counter-productive coping mechanism (but would be perfectly capable of doing an excellent job with the right guidance and support) and those that probably shouldn't be doing the work at all, just based on the behaviour you see online and whether they think they are irreplaceable though. Culturally, we have some really counter-productive 'measures' of the quality of a welfare org or rescue group that are popularised (like the 'who's got the best numbers' game), so sometimes you get situations where good people conform to an attitude or norm that they know is wrong/destructive/counter-productive to what we are trying to achieve in the long term, just because they no longer have the energy to fight with the AR crew or the 'zealots' (read the Four Phases article for what I mean by that), their perception is totally screwed up at that point in time because they are struggling with their own circumstances, or because they perceive it to be the easiest way to achieve a tangible, positive outcome for an animal that they are caring for given the circumstances. They aren't mutually exclusive situations either!

I'm regularly disappointed and frustrated by the sheer intensity of the hate, judgement and blaming/shaming that goes on in the broader welfare sector (and that some people encourage the public to join in on, often while 'selling' a simplified and counter-productive measure of how to tell the 'good guys' from the 'bad guys'). Anyone who understands what compassion fatigue is and how it affects everyone who does this work (and I mean everyone - not everyone burns out, but everyone will feel the emotional and psychological toll of welfare work), also understands that feeding the negativity is NEVER helpful for anyone involved. We KNOW that really kicking goals in comp animal welfare requires the whole community to be involved (which simply doesn't happen when people are actively working to 'divide and conquer', or manipulate people's emotions to garner support, or to assign blame because they think that they have the magic bullet to 'fixing things'); we KNOW that animal welfare outcomes are intrinsically linked to human welfare outcomes (in all walks of life, not just our sector); and we KNOW that everyone who is involved in this field will struggle with the first two points BECAUSE of compassion fatigue. Yet, we still have a culture in welfare/rescue that actively feeds the CF cycle and the majority of people who work or vollie in welfare have never even heard of the term.

[koalathebear]

What a sad thread - but there are a lot of good points being made. I do feel sad at the way rescue and rescuers often get demonised here and on facebook. There are a lot of unethical people in rescue but there are also a lot of good ones - just like there are a lot of good registered breeders and a lot of dodgy ones ... A lot of good dog owners and a lot of crap ones.

I've had my fair share of bad experience with rescue groups but I've also had a lot of good experiences. I'm not irreplaceable, I can't help all the dogs in need but I can help the dogs that are in my care. I can also help build a support network amongst the carers in my group in Canberra and provide post-adoption support to the families who adopt my dogs if it's needed. It can be hard to be in rescue - I've had to take my phone number off petrescue because I've had people swear at me because I insist on desexing the dog and they want to breed from it ... we get people saying: "I haven't trained the animal at all and it's not behaving well - take it of off my hands NOW or I will kill it ..." I can see how burn-out happens. We are careful to pace ourselves and not take on more than we can handle because we figure, if we burn out, we are no good to anyone...

[mita]

Diana, thanks for that information & those links. I totally agree with your post.

Sars, I totally understand that you stress you are only talking about 'some people' when you mention that there may be emotional disturbance leading some to take up rescue.

But I'd like to say that there are inherent features within work for homeless & needy animals, that can cause serious stress across the normal range of persons. The first step in preventing or dealing with such stresses is to recognize that it can be plain human to go at the knees in such settings. Unless it's managed for.... as others have already suggested. And the last thing the average volunteer, feeling the bite of these stresses, needs to be told, is that they entered the work because of some underlying emotional disturbance.

So Mel's plan of Compassion Fatigue workshops is an excellent idea. Compassion Fatigue is found in helping professions dealing with humans, too.

Perhaps if they can't take someone questioning their motives they are too fragile to be doing rescue anyway which is my point that some shouldn't be doing rescue.

I was referring to research that looked at the high rate of stress-related conditions occurring in shelter work with homeless animals. And I specifically referred to people 'across the normal range of persons'. Those who do not already have underlying pathological conditions. I pointed out, within the group I identified, it can be plain human to go at the knees from the stresses peculiar to the line of work. I pointed out that exactly the same thing occurs in helping professions dealing with vulnerable humans. I was associated with clinical training of post-graduate professionals ... all of whom had already been well screened for their new role. But, in Orientation Programs, we had to strongly point out that they'd needed to adopt strategies to prevent Compassion Fatigue or Burnout. Which is precisely what mel's excellent program is setting out to do. First point is that it's important to accept it can happen across the normal range ... so there'd be no shame or guilt in putting up a hand & asking for help or respite. Means of doing that should be built into the work role, anyway. I commend mel for putting on a workshop. Only problem I can see is that, sometimes, people who need such education most, might not necessarily be those who'll sign up, when it's in a voluntary capacity. Which may be another way of saying what you said.

[Salukifan]

People get into animal rescue for a range of reasons, some of which have very little to do with animals.

It's high stress, fairly hothoused and there's not a lot of appetite for 'outsider views' and a very real chance of losing all sense of perspective by becoming heavily involved over the longer term.

I think, like child protection and other very mentally challenging professions, it's not for everyone, there comes a time when some need to step outside for a break and its hard to do it because you think animals will die if you don't keep at it.

Rock, hard place. Damn difficult.

Edited May 10, 2015 by Haredown Whippets

[_PL_]

It's true that not everyone is involved in rescue for the same reason.

But being different isn't the problem as long as the animals are always the ones who positively benefit. Not everyone in rescue is going to agree, they don't need to. Trying to fit everyone into the same box gives people a black & white view of good and bad aka ethical and unethical.

I rescue slow and steady, I do come under criticism (or just plain nastiness lol) re; by being slower and doing things like application forms and home visits, means I'm letting pound dogs die. But my way works for my dogs, & won't be changing to keep up with the Joneses. Is that ethical or unethical? Depends on the beholder.

If I could offer some observations that usually go ignored :laugh: ......

There's the demands of the general public to take more and more. -- You need to learn to fight guilt and learn to say no. You can't save everyone.

There's imagining your skills and ethics as being much better than the reality. And doing things like getting in up to your neck in animals you can't properly pay for or care for. -- You need to totally get real about what you can and can't do. Or even why you do it.

There's the gratification of proving your success by just making money. And using all sorts of imaginative ways to make it. Or how quickly you can raise an 'army' to go slam someone for you. Or getting off on how many likes and comments one of your posts makes. -- You get noticed, but not in a good way. Your rescue network begins to shrink, other rescuers and volunteers take a step back when they know your stories are bullshit or malicious. Be honest. Lies bring you undone.

There's a thought that you have worked it all out. -- No you haven't. Nobody ever will. Not even Winograd ;-)

And there's a lot of glory seeking and people getting hooked on the attention, desperate for praise and approval. Some regularly have a tantie. Or flamboyantly 'quit' but can't stay away when starved for attention and drama-- You aren't all powerful. You aren't the indisputable Answer. Your adoring crowd doesn't equal good rescue work.

You need to have the self confidence to keep moving without constantly being told you're an angel. You aren't, and it doesn't matter anyway.

In the end it can be thankless and isolating work. I'm sad to see longevity in rescue is becoming a rare thing.

(edited because I only notice spelling mistakes after posting )

Edited May 10, 2015 by Powerlegs

[Diana R]

Totally agree with both Mita and Powerlegs. Just picking up on the point about 'subgroups' (like shelters, private rescue, pounds etc.) judging each other (both between and within groups). It's important for all of us to remember that the welfare sector is a huge system, which requires all parts to be involved and effective in order to function well. Everybody is important and everybody can contribute something, but no one person is the 'key' to progress.

Everyone (even those that probably shouldn't be doing the work) comes to the table with a unique skillset and life experience, at least some of which is usually applicable and valuable for others within the system. That should be a huge strength for us, rather than a weakness (like it currently is). The one consistent feature of progressive communities all over the world is cohesion - they know what each team member can and can't do, play to the strengths of each team member (be that the local AMO, trainer, pound staffer, specialist rescuer, vet provider etc. etc.) and provide a consistent, reliable message to the public, which in time results in snowballing support for animal welfare outcomes. It's a whole lot easier and more effective to get the public (and other welfare orgs) on board through consistent, supportive provision of services and education, than it is to shame/bully/manipulate them into getting involved or engaging in RPO behaviours. I'm not really sure why cohesiveness, mutual respect and team work are such difficult ideals to sell, but I'm hopeful that it becomes less difficult as support services for people working 'on the ground' become the norm and we all become more aware of how much damage we do to ourselves by feeding the negativity and isolation.

[Maddy]

Powerlegs is my spirit animal :p

[_PL_]

note to self;

make sure you don't have a full coffee cup or a full bladder before reading one of Maddy's posts.

[HazyWal]

It's true that not everyone is involved in rescue for the same reason.

But being different isn't the problem as long as the animals are always the ones who positively benefit. Not everyone in rescue is going to agree, they don't need to. Trying to fit everyone into the same box gives people a black & white view of good and bad aka ethical and unethical.

I rescue slow and steady, I do come under criticism (or just plain nastiness lol) re; by being slower and doing things like application forms and home visits, means I'm letting pound dogs die. But my way works for my dogs, & won't be changing to keep up with the Joneses. Is that ethical or unethical? Depends on the beholder.

If I could offer some observations that usually go ignored :laugh: ......

There's the demands of the general public to take more and more. -- You need to learn to fight guilt and learn to say no. You can't save everyone.

There's imagining your skills and ethics as being much better than the reality. And doing things like getting in up to your neck in animals you can't properly pay for or care for. -- You need to totally get real about what you can and can't do. Or even why you do it.

There's the gratification of proving your success by just making money. And using all sorts of imaginative ways to make it. Or how quickly you can raise an 'army' to go slam someone for you. Or getting off on how many likes and comments one of your posts makes. -- You get noticed, but not in a good way. Your rescue network begins to shrink, other rescuers and volunteers take a step back when they know your stories are bullshit or malicious. Be honest. Lies bring you undone.

There's a thought that you have worked it all out. -- No you haven't. Nobody ever will. Not even Winograd ;-)

And there's a lot of glory seeking and people getting hooked on the attention, desperate for praise and approval. Some regularly have a tantie. Or flamboyantly 'quit' but can't stay away when starved for attention and drama-- You aren't all powerful. You aren't the indisputable Answer. Your adoring crowd doesn't equal good rescue work.

You need to have the self confidence to keep moving without constantly being told you're an angel. You aren't, and it doesn't matter anyway.

In the end it can be thankless and isolating work. I'm sad to see longevity in rescue is becoming a rare thing.

(edited because I only notice spelling mistakes after posting )

What a brilliant post

[tdierikx]

I wanna be Powerlegs if/when I grow up...

T.