Quality of Life Assessment: A Study of U.S. Animal Shelter Staff Well-Being

In 2023, Best Friends Animal Society conducted a survey of U.S. animal shelter staff well-being — the largest survey of its kind to date. Shelter work is demanding, of course, and these demands can take a toll on staff’s mental and physical health. The past few years have been especially tough, as shelters struggle to navigate a series of unprecedented challenges, including pandemic-related restrictions, an ongoing shortage of veterinary professionals, and persistent inflation.

All of these factors are likely to affect staff well-being. The question was, to what extent?