Working with animals used in research can involve an emotional burden that is not always easy to name. This burden may lead to compassion fatigue, a form of emotional exhaustion that can appear after working with research animals.
Anneke Keizer, a specialist in compassion fatigue in laboratory animal science, has spent 16 years helping animal research facilities understand and address this issue. In November, she will visit the Barcelona Biomedical Research Park (PRBB) to carry out an internal diagnosis of compassion fatigue at the Park.
Through a talk and confidential conversations with people whose work is connected to animal research, she will gather experiences, identify needs and provide recommendations adapted to the PRBB community, where researchers work mainly with mice, rats, zebrafish and some Xenopus models.
What makes people who work with animals used in research particularly vulnerable to compassion fatigue?
There are many factors. But one of the main ones is very simple, and it’s that people build relationships with the animals they work with.
This can happen when you care for them every day, when you monitor them, or when you are involved in procedures and difficult decisions. It is not only about one specific moment. It is the accumulation of responsibility, repeated exposure to difficult situations and, sometimes, the feeling that you have to keep going without much space to talk about what it means.
At the PRBB, researchers work mainly with rodents and aquatic models, including mice, rats, zebrafish and some Xenopus. Does the emotional impact vary depending on the species?
The way people relate to animals can vary depending on the species. But emotional bonds are not limited to animals that are easy for us to recognise as individuals. People who work with rodents or aquatic models can also become very familiar with their behaviour, routines and needs.
This is especially true for the people who care for the animals every day. They monitor them, handle them and try to make sure they have the best possible life during the study. Over time, that creates a strong sense of responsibility.
Environmental enrichment can also play a role. When carers see how animals respond to nesting material, shelters or other forms of enrichment, they learn more about their behaviour and preferences. That can bring them closer to the animals. And it can make the end of a study emotionally difficult, whether they work with rodents or aquatic models.
Can compassion fatigue affect people differently depending on their role, and why is it important to listen to all of them?
Yes. Veterinarians, animal care staff and veterinary assistants are often closer to the animals because they interact with them every day. Researchers may have less direct contact, although this varies a lot. Some are very involved, while others may be more focused on the study results. That difference can sometimes create tension with the people responsible for the animals’ daily care.
Graduate students can also be particularly affected. I find that younger generations are often more willing to recognise and express their emotions. Many people from older generations were taught not to show emotion or become attached. This can be even more marked in some professional cultures, or among men who were told that showing emotion was not acceptable.
But compassion fatigue is not limited to the people who interact most directly with the animals. Staff involved in cage washing, cleaning or facility support may also experience distress.
Sometimes people raise very practical issues that are not immediately recognised as related to compassion fatigue. A slippery floor might look like a maintenance problem. But if someone is carrying a cage, falls and fears that both they and the animal could be injured, it becomes a source of stress. Listening to staff can reveal these connections and identify changes that may improve both wellbeing and animal care.
Regardless of their role, everyone handling animals should do so with compassion, even during something as routine as weighing them. I often say: happy people, happy animals, better results. Caring for staff wellbeing and animal welfare also contributes to better science.
What signs might indicate that someone is experiencing compassion fatigue?
Isolation is an important sign. People may withdraw from their team, become unusually quiet or hide away. They might go to a changing room or a stairwell to sit alone. Others may feel sad, overwhelmed or close to tears, especially around difficult procedures or at the end of a study.
Managers should be present. They should walk around the facility and pay attention to changes in people’s behaviour. If someone is no longer talking or socialising with the team, it is important to approach them and ask how they are doing.
And then listen. That is important. People do not always need advice. Sometimes they simply need someone to listen without immediately telling them what they should do.
Facilities should make it clear that these emotions are normal. Nobody should feel afraid or ashamed to speak about them.
Some people worry that showing emotion could call their professionalism into question, or feel that this is simply part of the job. What would you say to them?
Caring does not make you less professional. Think about doctors and nurses, for example. When they listen, show empathy and genuinely care about what you are experiencing, we often consider them better professionals. It is the same when working with animals. If you care about them and are committed to giving them the best possible life, you are being professional.
Do not be ashamed of these feelings. They often come from caring about the animals and wanting to do the work well. Those are exactly the kind of people we need in animal research. We need people who pay attention, care and take responsibility.
For institutions, the first step is to acknowledge that these emotions exist and that nobody is exempt from them. Then they need to provide guidance and create safe opportunities to talk about compassion fatigue.
One option is to train a member of staff as a peer counsellor: someone who knows how to listen, respects confidentiality and does not gossip. In a relatively small facility, even one trusted and properly trained person could make a difference.
Support can also include group discussions, addressing compassion fatigue during staff meetings, creating welcoming break areas or quiet spaces, and finding ways to recognise or commemorate the animals. But the specific measures should come from what people in each facility actually need.
You will visit the PRBB in November. What will this process involve?
I will begin with a one-hour session explaining what compassion fatigue is and what people can do to care for themselves, both at work and at home. We will also discuss the language used within animal facilities and the types of support that can be introduced.
Afterwards, I will hold confidential conversations with people who work with animals or whose roles are connected to animal research. This should not only include veterinarians and animal care staff, but also researchers, staff involved in cage washing and cleaning, and members of ethics or good-practice committees.
The conversations will take approximately 30 minutes. I will take notes, but I will not record people’s names. I will only identify their general professional role. Participants will also be able to tell me if there is something they do not want included in my notes or in the report.
I want to understand whether people are experiencing compassion fatigue and what they think could improve their working environment. At the end of the visit, I will share the main issues and suggestions that have emerged. I will then prepare a report with recommendations for the PRBB.
