Shelter veterinarians and staff cite moral injury and unsustainable caseloads

Caroline Herefield described staff exhaustion and the emotional toll of shelter work, saying that the shelter is "sitting on the very bottom of a tsunami" of increased owner surrenders and that staff are already showing signs of strain. She invoked the concept of "moral injury," saying, "Moral injury is really what it is ... I personally have euthanized thousands, and I'm not exaggerating," and warned staff cannot sustain current workloads indefinitely.

Anbinder and other staff noted clinical workload metrics for veterinarians: OAS leadership said shelter veterinarians face minimum caseloads that can reach roughly 100 animals per vet on some days, and that this is often higher than private practices. Committee members expressed concern and recommended prioritizing staffing increases (including additional animal care attendants and a second foster rescue coordinator) and mental-health supports for staff.