Euthanasia-related strain and coping strategies in animal shelter employees.
OBJECTIVE
To identify and evaluate coping strategies advocated by experienced animal shelter workers who directly engaged in euthanizing animals.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Animal shelters across the United States in which euthanasia was conducted (5 to 100 employees/shelter).


METHODS
With the assistance of experts associated with the Humane Society of the United States, the authors identified 88 animal shelters throughout the United States in which animal euthanasia was actively conducted and for which contact information regarding the shelter director was available. Staff at 62 animal shelters agreed to participate in the survey. Survey packets were mailed to the 62 shelter directors, who then distributed them to employees. The survey included questions regarding respondent age, level of education, and role and asked those directly involved in the euthanasia of animals to provide advice on strategies for new euthanasia technicians to deal with the related stress. Employees completed the survey and returned it by mail. Content analysis techniques were used to summarize survey responses.


RESULTS
Coping strategies suggested by 242 euthanasia technicians were summarized into 26 distinct coping recommendations in 8 categories: competence or skills strategies, euthanasia behavioral strategies, cognitive or self-talk strategies, emotional regulation strategies, separation strategies, get-help strategies, seek long-term solution strategies, and withdrawal strategies.


CONCLUSIONS
Euthanizing animals is a major stressor for many animal shelter workers. Information regarding the coping strategies identified in this study may be useful for training new euthanasia technicians.
Baran
Benjamin E
BE
Organizational Science, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of North Carolina, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA.
Allen
Joseph A
JA
Rogelberg
Steven G
SG
Spitzmüller
Christiane
C
Digiacomo
Natalie A
NA
Webb
Jennifer B
JB
Carter
Nathan T
NT
Clark
Olga L
OL
Teeter
Lisa A
LA
Walker
Alan G
AG
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D003625:Data Collection; D037901:Euthanasia, Animal; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States