The animal rescue world recently experienced a terrible loss following the death of Mikayla Raines, founder of SaveAFox. When the rescue community loses one of its own the impact is fairly widespread. However, circumstances like Mikayla’s death underscore a very real, very serious problem rescuers face all too often: bullying, especially cyber bullying and harassment. Despite the compassion that drives a majority to get involved in rescue, rescue can also attract people capable of great cruelty to others.
The Costs Borne by Rescuers
Some, unfortunately, have the idea that rescuing animals is about doing something because it’s trendy or profitable in some ways. As a friend of several in the rescue community, I can attest that nothing is further from the truth. Rescuers have a lot on their plates, often balancing family responsibilities, jobs, and other personal commitments. They often have the general public expecting them to tackle everything.
People involved with animal rescue are likely to experience compassion fatigue. This kind of stress involves emotional, mental, and physical exhaustion, sometimes leading to burnout, depression, and emotional exhaustion. Examples of other kinds of work that may involve compassion fatigue include social work and veterinary medicine.
Some of the things rescuers can experience due to compassion fatigue include:
● Emotional detachment
● Emotional numbness
● Exhaustion
● Feelings of helplessness
● Loss of interest in activities
● Overwhelmed feelings
● Reduced empathy
Rescuers often have to cope with being available seven days a week, and not having conventional vacation time. Animals with special needs, as well as wildlife, can require more care. The majority of rescue organizations rely on public donations to stay afloat, often making raising the necessary funds a constant struggle. On top of all this, animal advocates often have to deal with cyber bullying.
Brutal Behavior Online
Rescuers and animal advocates can be some of the world’s kindest people. However, these groups can also include people who thrive on drama and chaos. When the bullying crosses certain lines, such as the bullying that Mikayla dealt with, the consequences can be deadly. For every soul the rescue world loses to death or opting to leave the chaos behind and quitting, there are countless animals left in need.
Full disclosure: I am a Facebook admin for Rescue/Lost & Found Animals of West Texas, HILT: High-Intake, Low-Traffic Crossposting, and Texas Herding Dogs in NEED OF RESCUES. These unpaid positions are unrelated to my writing for Dogs in Danger. As an admin, I’ve seen glaring examples of how cruel people can be online. Rescuers are at a high risk for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and online harassment never helps.
One of the most troubling things about cyber bullying is how severely it can damage reputations. The lies that online bullies spread can be a public record that lasts for a long time. Although much about cyber bullying focuses on children and teens, the harm to adults is no less serious.
Rescuers Need Mental/Emotional Help
Rescuers are often some of the most resilient people around. Many have withstood hard times, including domestic abuse, difficult military experiences, and health struggles. Their activities may make them more well-known to the public than they would be otherwise. However, just because someone is resilient block and well-known, doesn’t mean they’re made of stone. If anything, rescuers have have more need for mental health resources than many.
Although most people involved with rescue do not have to perform euthanasia as part of their job, the life and death decisions involved can exact a high emotional toll. When dealing with declining sick, injured, or elderly animals in their care, rescuers may have to make tough decisions to continue treatment or pursue humane euthanasia with their vet’s advice. Some animal enthusiasts D take particularly harsh views no matter what the decision and express them in cruel ways.
Compassion fatigue, high among those in caring professions, often contributes to burnout and PTSD. Many involved with rescue need to take breaks from their activities sometimes for their emotional or mental health. This is not selfish, but smart.
The Vancouver Humane Society offers a free course for preventing compassion fatigue. Using such free resources can make it easier to overcome the stresses involved with rescue work. Be sure to share such resources when you find them - sharing is caring.
If You See Something, Say Something
Although it might seem like a cliche, “If you see something, say something” rings true here. Rescuers and other similarly empathetic types might take a lot of abuse without letting on that anything is wrong - until it’s too late. Stepping up when bullying has gone too far may save a life,
Turning down the temperature when things get too contentious can make all the difference. Use social media tools at your disposal to report members who cross that line into harassment. When you can, educate others on how to members who are harassing them.
Make it a point to check in with rescue friends regularly. Many rescuers are good at keeping their struggles under wraps. Don’t be afraid to reach, even if it’s to see if they want or need anything. Showing that you care may offer a needed boost.
Help your friends involved with rescue to enforce their boundaries. If you know someone is going through a rough time, don’t add to the burdens they’re bearing. Give them some adjustment time before social media tags and similar activities that add to the stress level.
Some organizations involved in animal care, such as the Arizona Humane Society, have started using social workers for counseling. These professionals can provide a valuable lifeline for stressed rescue workers. Social workers have access to resources that the general public might not think about.
Bullying directed against rescuers must stop. Many of these beautiful souls already faced major adversity before getting involved with rescue, making the bullying often faced all the more tragic. Rescuers and their supporters can work together to help keep everyone in this community safer.
