Contributed by: Linda Chitwood

If you’re engaged in animal welfare issues, you are also engaged in people issues. So often, when animals are suffering, people are suffering too. Maintaining your humanity, and not spiraling into the gloomy prison of hate, bitterness, and even retaliation, is a real challenge for anyone who works to advance animal welfare. The longer you stay involved, the easier it becomes to grow angry and resentful, whether at individuals or society itself. Loving animals but losing traction as you strain to help them can drain your spirit. This feeling is often described as compassion fatigue.

But this is a battle we must win: how to retain – or regain – our humanity, our kindness, our mercy and compassion for all living beings, even as we confront the injustices animals face. We become less effective when we descend into judgment, lashing out at others on the same mission; issuing scathing rebukes to anyone who does not respond as you believe you would have.

Are you pushing away potential allies by condemning pet owners who are simply uninformed, not malicious? Have you criticized or ridiculed fellow rescuers for their different approaches? Have you made comments about owners who are less than humane, less than kind, not compassionate, not helpful, or even cruel?

Most of us have. Perhaps you’ve even caught yourself wishing that someone who harmed an animal would be forced to endure the same suffering. But ask yourself honestly: Is your goal peace and welfare for animals and their people – or is it revenge?

Tearing each other down, undermining the efforts of others, and refusing to help are sadly common behaviors among animal welfare advocates. But they don’t serve the animals, or the movement.

Stop. Stop it now. Today.

We are living in a shared space, inhabited by people, dogs, cats, animals, and all of creation. Let’s stop the anger and:

• Extend peace to those who handled a situation differently than you would have, especially if you did not, would not, or could not get involved. Then…pause. Close your mouth.
• Welcome new volunteers warmly. Encourage, teach, and support them. Thank them for their efforts. Remember, you were once starry-eyed and dreaming of saving them all once too, maybe even secretly polishing your halo. Ease them into the realities of this work, and support them as they face it. The animals will need these young, energetic advocates when we are too old and infirm to carry on.
• Accept the realities you cannot change. The truth is, we do not have enough homes or rescues for all the homeless dogs and cats in America. Humane, compassionate euthanasia (at the hands of a professional) is inevitable for the foreseeable future, and may sometimes be the kindest option. If you find that reality too difficult to face, consider shifting your focus to support work that keeps you further from the front lines.
• Stay focused on spay/neuter. Yes, the pull of a single suffering animal’s eyes is strong. But helping just one while others are turned away is not sustainable. That heartbreak is where bitterness and hostility takes root; it’s what makes us rage against each other and our society. Guide volunteers to see every cat fixed today prevents thousands of future births. That’s measurable, meaningful change.
• Respect others’ choices. Some choose to focus on individual rescue – and that is their right. Be a champion of spay/neuter, but honor the role that all approaches play. Opening avenues of communication is essential to advancing animal welfare, and our discussions must be civil and respectful of each other’s humanity.

So to all who love animals: Guard the precious gift of humanity and compassion that brought you here. Let it shine in your work, not just with the animals, but with each other. Be kind, friendly, smiling, loving, and compassionate – with your fellow humans as much as with your four-legged friends. Because these animals are relying on us. We are their hope.

And don’t lose focus: Spay one, save thousands. That’s not just a slogan, that’s fact. Fix a cat today and rest easy knowing you prevented generations of suffering with one simple, life-changing act. Sustainable, measurable success with peace does await you.

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Linda Chitwood is the founder and former director of Homeless Animal Relief Project, which provides free or low-cost spay/neuter surgery for pets living with the poor in north Mississippi. The recipient of The Annie Lee Roberts Courage & Compassion Award from The Summerlee Foundation, Linda has over 25 years experience in addressing pet welfare challenges. She is the author of $5 For a Cat Head: True tales of animal welfare, with hands-on tips for helping animals.