Compassion Fatigue and Animal Welfare.
Compassion fatigue is a condition characterized by emotional and physical exhaustion often described as the negative cost of caring. It is sometimes referred to as secondary traumatic stress. This condition is usually applicable to care givers working for humans and animals as well. (As defined by Wikipedia)
The compassion fatigue I speak about is that related to Animal Welfare volunteers who work on streets or shelters in the service of street dogs. Their vocation can have several aspects to their service. Their activities may involve the feeding of dogs, taking care of their medical needs on the street itself. At times the volunteering may also involve their hospitalization and post-operative rehabilitation of the animal.
Though catering to the needs of the streets dogs can be the best job in the world, it can be very traumatic and soul-destroying as well.
It can be very traumatic for the human mind to experience firsthand the consequences of animal cruelty on a harmless animal. The injuries caused to these street dogs due to traffic accidents can be horrifying. Nursing the injuries they inflict on each other due to battles between packs can be an unpleasant experience. Lactating mothers being separated from their pups, puppies dying of hunger and disease, relocations and the list is endless.
Experiencing these traumatic events regularly begins to have an adverse effect on you without you even realizing it. Your subconscious is tracking and recording every unpleasant event. Before you realize it, the joy of caregiving is eclipsed by sadness, fear, and anxiety and thus the onset of compassion fatigue.
Signs of Compassion Fatigue
- Complete paranoia regards the health and whereabouts of your street dogs.
- Constant mental and Physical Tiredness accompanied by headaches at times.
- Loss of Sleep and Concentration.
- A total encompassing feeling of helplessness and hopelessness in the field.
- Blaming oneself for anything and everything.
- Loss of Interest and drop of productivity in tasks.
- Continuous Feeling of Sadness and Anger.
- Bursting into Tears and Weeping at the smallest issues.
- Anger Bursts towards colleagues and other humans in general.
- Cynicism and Sarcasm begin to rule your life.
- Eclipsed in feeling the hurt and pain of the animals in your care 24/7.
- Oscillating frequently between various emotions like anger, sadness, elation back to sadness etc.
Thoughts and steps to avoid / overcome Compassion Fatigue.
- Acceptance. What is to happen will happen with or without your intervention. If the street dog is to survive it will. The Universe has chosen you to walk with him during his difficult time. If you are not there, there will another. The Universe works that way.
2. You are doing the best and to your utmost capability. If you still feel more can be done ask for help from other volunteers. This does not have to be a lonely battle to take care of our dear stray dogs.
3. Work in a group. Most animal welfare volunteers are the lone wolf types. They work alone. It is recommended to work in a group as social interaction and sharing trials and tribulations of a passion are always more healthy than bottling it all up.
4. The Sun always rises the next morning. These dogs have been there before you and will continue to be there after you. Their survival instincts are incredible and they are more in touch with the Universe than we can ever imagine.
5. Take a break. You need cannot be under the constant pressure of caregiving 24/7, you need a regular break or breather to recharge and get back into the game.
6. Meditation. Taking a short course in meditation. Regular Meditation will keep you grounded and there will be a renewed calmness while going about the vocation of caregiving. There will be a clearer thought process
7. Take time out to exercise. Exercising regularly will detoxify your body and reduce the constant stress levels.
8. Drink sufficient water and eat well. Eat the right kinds of foods and stay hydrated.
9. Write, Write, Write. Write your experiences down regardless of whether they are unpleasant, sad, or heartbreaking. Writing gives you a form of emotional release and all the pent-up sadness comes out while writing.
10. Stay within the capacity of capability, time and money. You know how much time you have, you know how many dogs you can take care of in a practical manner and you know the money you have. Stay within the boundaries of capacity, capability, and time. Do less but do it well. You cannot save the world but you can make a world of a difference to a few dogs and this is enough.
11. Learn to say NO. There will be other requests and rescues that will demand your time and services. There will be posts on Animal Welfare Facebook Groups that will catch your attention. A lot of dogs need help. You will need to focus on what you have taken up first. Finish your commitment to your existing dogs and then see if you can stretch your capacity. If you can’t, say NO for the sake of the dogs you have committed to. Otherwise, you will end up spreading yourself too thin such that you will not be able to give effective time to anyone. The Universe is watching and will ensure the dog lives its destiny to the fullest, with or without your help.
12. Light a candle or Diya. Follow a symbolic ritual of lighting a lamp every day. This will give you some sort of comfort that your cares and concerns are being heard and good vibrations/prayers are being transmitted to your animals. Your positive thoughts will protect them.
Closing Thought on Compassion Fatigue and its treatment.
Remember you have to take care of yourself FIRST in order to be taking care of others. Compassion Fatigue if not taken seriously can digress into serious depression.
Reach out to trusted friends or family if you feel your mind is beginning to have a life of its own in a negative way or reach out to a mental health professional.
Compassion Fatigue – A “Rescue Story” Short – Conscious Content
About Author
Zarir Karbhari dedicates his waking hours to the welfare of stray and abandoned animals on the streets of Pune. He is a Civil Engineer by education and ran a software development company for over 25 years till his life quite literally went to the dogs.
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Related Reading on Strays – Our angels
Strays, our guardian angels who live on the roads. They save our souls and we must give back to them, whenever we can and however we can.
Happy Shoppy Store is an endevour of Kunashni, a organization dedicating its time to the service to the urban homeless animals. Proceeds of this portal are used towards the feeding, sterilization and medical care of these animals living on the streets of Pune.
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