Director's Corner
Greetings,
These are incredibly challenging times. From Covid-19 to the economic chaos to the violence at the Capitol and beyond, it's hard sometimes to know which crisis to focus on first. Couple that with the daily stress we feel as animal welfare professionals working tirelessly to support our staff and ensure the best possible outcome for animals in our care, and everyday tasks can feel overwhelming. It's okay to not feel okay, and it's okay to ask for help.

This month's Director's Corner aims to provide resources that we hope will be useful to you and your staff as we navigate the uncertainty of each new day. We offer them in the spirit of self-care and recognition of how important our connections to one another truly are. If there are other resources you've found helpful, please consider sharing them on our grantee Facebook page.
Thanks for all you do to make life better for senior dogs and for sharing your successes and challenges. The more we can learn from--and support--one another, the more senior dogs we will help!

Sincerely,
Lisa Lunghofer, PhD
Executive Director
Coping with Stress: Compassion in Balance Community Call
Recorded at the start of the pandemic, this webinar offers helpful information about how we can manage stress, whether related to Covid-19 or any other crisis of the day. Presenter Jessica Dolce is a Certified Compassion Fatigue Educator who brings almost twenty years of experience working with and for companion animals to her coaching and online programs. This is a great resource for animal welfare leaders, staff, and volunteers alike.
You'll learn:

  • How the stress response is impacting our bodies and brains
  • How to self-regulate using grounding practices
  • Why and how we need to prep for sleep
  • Thoughts that help protect us against stress
  • What leaders can do to support staff and
  • A hand washing practice that will help you feel connected and compassionate

Jessica will also be giving a free Grey Muzzle webinar on March 5 at 1 ET. You can register here.
How Am I Really Feeling?
One of the first steps to managing stress is being aware of how it's affecting us. Created by Linda R. Harper, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist and author of The Power of Joy in Giving to Animals, this is a brief self-assessment tool that can be used to identify signs of burnout and compassion fatigue. It's short, straightforward, and includes information to interpret results.  

Click here to download the assessment.
Tips and Tools
Meryl Schwartz is a Certified Professional Coach who specializes in compassion fatigue. Her presentation, Coping in the Time of COVID, includes some great tips, helpful worksheets, and constructive advice on how to maintain our productivity, well-being, and sanity during this trying time (and beyond).

You can find her presentation here.
Special Support for our Veterinarians
The Shanti Project recently launched a new, free group for veterinarians. The Veterinary Mental Health, Support, and Resiliency Group provides an empathetic and supportive space to understand how your colleagues are persevering through challenges, with an emphasis on processing stress and grief, learning effective coping skills, implementing a healthier work-life balance, and renewing a love for veterinary medicine. The small groups address participants’ individual concerns in the context of a shared experience that helps to foster well-being and resilience in this career.

You can learn more about the groups here.
The Grey Muzzle Organization | Website