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A raw and authentic podcast for those who work or volunteer in animal care, welfare, or activism, who are struggling with compassion fatigue, burnout, grief and loss, secondary traumatic stress, and other mental health concerns. Through both solo and guest episodes, I blend science, psychology, spirituality, and even a touch of "woo woo" to help you manage compassion fatigue, build resilience, and make your passion for helping animals sustainable. If you're involved in animal caregiving, rescue, trap-neuter return (TNR), sheltering, animal control, cruelty investigations, veterinary medicine, fostering, wildlife or marine rehabilitation and conservation, animal law or lobbying, ethical veganism, or any other role in animal care, welfare, or activism, and struggling with the consequences of caring so much that it hurts, this podcast is for you!
The host, Jen Blough, LPC, is a licensed professional counselor, compassion fatigue coach and speaker, and author with more than 35 years of experience in animal welfare and activism. She is the author of To Save a Starfish: A Compassion Fatigue Workbook for the Animal Welfare Warrior and the upcoming book, Beyond Compassion Fatigue.
Episodes
9 hours ago
9 hours ago
28 min
In this episode, I’m joined by Melissa Sherman and Sunny Gandara, hosts of The Whole Pack Podcast, for a conversation about the emotional side of caring for animals. We explore how compassion fatigue can show up in less obvious animal-care roles, why the accumulation of small emotional experiences can be just as significant as major crises, and what happens when our passion makes it difficult to set boundaries.
We talk about emotional boundaries, coping skills, morning routines, walking meditation, EFT, the importance of peer support, and more.
We also explore compassion satisfaction and why reconnecting with the joyful, playful parts of our relationships with animals can help protect the very thing that brought us to this work in the first place.
About the Guests:
Sunny Gandara is a certified holistic pet health coach and canine nutritionist specializing in cancer prevention, TCVM food therapy, and whole-food nutrition for dogs, work she built after losing her Cane Corso Nacho to hemangiosarcoma and realizing that the support she desperately needed for pet parents in that position simply did not exist. Based in Beacon, New York she also works at Full Circle Veterinary Hospital alongside an integrative veterinarian twice a week. She bridges the gap between conventional and holistic care through her practice Nacho Average Dog Health Coach, helping pet parents navigate chronic illness, inflammation, and cancer.
Free Resource: “From Itchy Skin to Cancer: The Inflammation Roadmap” is a free guide that walks dog owners through the five stages chronic inflammation moves through, starting with things as ordinary as itchy skin or a sensitive stomach and ending at the cellular changes tied to cancer risk. It includes five healing recipes built on Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine food therapy, plus a seven-day inflammation reset checklist to start putting the information to work right away. It's built for owners who want to catch inflammation early, while there's still time to change the outcome.
Connect with Sunny:
Website
Instagram:@nachoaveragegdoghealthcoach
Facebook
TikTok: @doghealthcoach
Melissa Sherman is an animal communicator and the founder of Calming Creek. She has dedicated her work to helping animals and the people who love them better understand one another, fostering deeper connection, healing, and a stronger bond. Melissa specializes in supporting sensitive animals and their guardians through behavior concerns, grief, and end-of-life transitions.
Free Resource: Beginner’s Guide to Energy Healing for Animals: A gentle introduction to simple practices that can help you slow down, ground yourself, and create a calmer, more connected space with the animals in your care.
Connect with Melissa:
Website: calmingcreek.com
Instagram: @calmingcreekhealing
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/calmingcreek
TikTok: @calmingcreek
The Whole Pack Podcast – available on most platforms (Apple, Spotify, etc.) as well as on Substack
Instagram: @thewholepack_
Facebook
Substack
More Resources:
Sign up for my free monthly newsletter here.
Got a suggestion for a future topic? Reach out to me: jen@jenblough.com.
Interested in becoming certified in compassion fatigue? Learn more here!
Follow on social media:
Grab your free resources to help manage compassion fatigue here.
Visit my free virtual calming room here.
Get your copy of To Save a Starfish: A Compassion Fatigue Workbook for the Animal Welfare Warrior here.
Pre-order your copy of Beyond Compassion Fatigue: Trauma, Resilience, and Recovery in Animal Care and Advocacy here.
Aug 20, 2026
Aug 20, 2026
17 min
If you're someone who struggles with saying no, setting limits, or putting your own needs on the list, this episode is for you.
In animal care, welfare, rescue, vet med, and activism, boundaries can be particularly complicated. When you're surrounded by animals who need help and people who are struggling, it can be incredibly easy to fall into the belief that you have to keep giving—and that taking care of yourself means you're letting someone else down.
In this episode, I talk about affirmations and how they can help us practice a different way of talking to ourselves, particularly when it comes to boundaries.
And don't worry, this isn't about standing in front of the mirror declaring that everything is wonderful when it absolutely isn't.
You'll learn:
- Why affirmations aren't the same thing as toxic positivity
- How repetitive thoughts can become automatic
- What neuroplasticity has to do with changing thought patterns
- Why knowing you need a boundary isn't always enough to actually set one
- How affirmations can help you practice new beliefs
- Why you don't have to fully believe an affirmation for it to be useful
- How to incorporate affirmations into your everyday routine
- Boundary-setting affirmations specifically for animal welfare professionals
Resources:
Sign up for my free monthly newsletter here.
Got a suggestion for a future topic? Reach out to me: jen@jenblough.com.
Interested in becoming certified in compassion fatigue? Learn more here!
Follow on social media:
Grab your free resources to help manage compassion fatigue here.
Visit my free virtual calming room here.
Get your copy of To Save a Starfish: A Compassion Fatigue Workbook for the Animal Welfare Warrior here.
Pre-order your copy of Beyond Compassion Fatigue: Trauma, Resilience, and Recovery in Animal Care and Advocacy here.
Aug 13, 2026
Aug 13, 2026
38 min
On today's episode, I talk with animal advocate and longtime radio personality Holly Haze, whose journey into rescue began with a dog named Taco. After sharing Taco's story on social media and learning that he had been euthanized, Holly realized that awareness alone wasn't enough—she needed to do more.
That moment sparked a mission that eventually led to Furry Friday, a weekly radio feature highlighting shelter animals in need of homes. Through her voice and platform, Holly has helped countless animals find families while becoming deeply involved as a volunteer, foster, and board member.
We Explore:
- How grief and guilt can become catalysts for action
- The emotional realities of volunteering in animal welfare
- Compassion fatigue, burnout, and the "zealot phase"
- Why boundaries are essential for staying in the work long-term
- Finding compassion satisfaction in the small wins
- The systemic issues driving shelter overcrowding
- The importance of spay/neuter and public education
- Why every person—regardless of their skills or emotional bandwidth—has a place in helping animals
- How fostering, daycations, photography, social media, and even laundry can save lives
- Learning to accept that we cannot save them all while still making a difference
Resources Mentioned:
Holly’s Instagram
Additional Resources for Managing Compassion Fatigue:
Sign up for my free monthly newsletter here.
Got a suggestion for a future topic? Reach out to me: jen@jenblough.com.
Interested in becoming certified in compassion fatigue? Learn more here!
Follow on social media:
Grab your free resources to help manage compassion fatigue here.
Visit my free virtual calming room here.
Get your copy of To Save a Starfish: A Compassion Fatigue Workbook for the Animal Welfare Warrior here.
Pre-order your copy of Beyond Compassion Fatigue: Trauma, Resilience, and Recovery in Animal Care and Advocacy here.
Aug 6, 2026
Aug 6, 2026
13 min
In this episode of Beyond Compassion Fatigue Podcast, I explore one of the most misunderstood and least talked about experiences in animal welfare work: emotional numbness.
Many animal care professionals, rescuers, advocates, veterinary staff, shelter workers, wildlife rehabilitators, trainers, and activists eventually reach a point where they stop reacting emotionally the way they once did. Cases that used to keep them awake at night no longer seem to register emotionally. Tears stop coming. Compassion can begin to feel distant or inaccessible.
This episode dives into why emotional shutdown happens, how the nervous system adapts to chronic exposure to suffering and trauma, and why numbness does not mean you have stopped caring.
You’ll learn:
- The connection between compassion fatigue and emotional detachment
- How chronic stress and trauma exposure impact the nervous system
- The difference between caring deeply and feeling intensely
- Fight, flight, freeze, and shutdown responses
- Why emotional numbing is often a survival response
- The guilt and shame many helpers experience when they feel disconnected from their passion
- Bottom-up (body-first) and top-down (mind-first) strategies for reconnecting with yourself safely and sustainably
Resources mentioned:
Episode 57: Compassion Satisfaction: The Anchor in the Storm
Sign up for my free monthly newsletter here.
Got a suggestion for a future topic? Reach out to me: jen@jenblough.com.
Interested in becoming certified in compassion fatigue? Learn more here!
Follow on social media:
Grab your free resources to help manage compassion fatigue here.
Visit my free virtual calming room here.
Get your copy of To Save a Starfish: A Compassion Fatigue Workbook for the Animal Welfare Warrior here.
Jul 30, 2026
Jul 30, 2026
37 min
Lost dog recovery is a race against time, fueled by hope, heartbreak, patience, and perseverance. In this episode, I’m joined by Holly Fontaine, an award-winning animal advocate from Connecticut and volunteer with Connecticut Dog Gone Recovery. Holly spends countless hours helping frightened, lost dogs find their way back home, often under difficult and emotionally demanding circumstances.
Holly shares what drew her into lost dog recovery work, what the public often misunderstands about recovering lost dogs, and the emotional toll that comes with witnessing fear, loss, and suffering. We discuss compassion fatigue, anger, and the unique challenges faced by animal advocates who care deeply but cannot save every animal they encounter.
We also explore the strategies Holly uses to stay grounded, including exercise, focusing on small victories, and turning up her favorite 80s music when she needs to reset her nervous system. From the healing power of movement to the uplifting energy of classic songs, Holly offers practical and relatable insights for anyone working in animal care, rescue, welfare, or advocacy.
We discuss:
- The mission and work of Connecticut Dog Gone Recovery
- The emotional realities of animal advocacy
- Managing anger and frustration in animal welfare work
- How exercise helps regulate stress and emotions
- The surprising role of 80s music in emotional recovery
- Why celebrating small wins matters
- Finding peace through consistent action rather than perfection
Resources Mentioned:
More Resources:
Sign up for my free monthly newsletter here.
Got a suggestion for a future topic? Reach out to me: jen@jenblough.com.
Interested in becoming certified in compassion fatigue? Learn more here!
Follow on social media:
Grab your free resources to help manage compassion fatigue here.
Visit my free virtual calming room here.
Get your copy of To Save a Starfish: A Compassion Fatigue Workbook for the Animal Welfare Warrior here.
Pre-order your copy of Beyond Compassion Fatigue: Trauma, Resilience, and Recovery in Animal Care and Advocacy here.
Jul 23, 2026
Jul 23, 2026
9 min
On today's episode of Beyond Compassion Fatigue, I read a snippet from my forthcoming book of the same name. This reading is from chapter one: Pain versus Suffering. Want even more? Click here to download a free Sneak Peek Bundle which features the introduction, chapter one, and chapter six!
Beyond Compassion Fatigue: Trauma, Resilience, and Recovery in Animal Care and Advocacy publishes February 9, 2027 but is available for pre-order now!
Who is this book for?
- Animal shelter staff and volunteers
- Animal control officers
- Animal rescuers
- Animal sanctuary staff and volunteers
- Foster parents
- Veterinary professionals
- Wildlife rehabbers and conservationsists
- Adovcates and activists
- Anyone else involved in animal care and welfare!
More resources:
Sign up for my free monthly newsletter here.
Got a suggestion for a future topic? Reach out to me: jen@jenblough.com.
Interested in becoming certified in compassion fatigue? Learn more here!
Follow on social media:
Grab your free resources to help manage compassion fatigue here.
Visit my free virtual calming room here.
Get your copy of To Save a Starfish: A Compassion Fatigue Workbook for the Animal Welfare Warrior here.
Pre-order your copy of Beyond Compassion Fatigue: Trauma, Resilience, and Recovery in Animal Care and Advocacy here.
Jul 16, 2026
Jul 16, 2026
33 min
Working in animal welfare and behavior can be incredibly rewarding—but it can also take a significant emotional toll. In this episode, I sit down with Carol Sumbry, a Certified Behavior Consultant, Force-Free Certified Professional Dog Trainer, Trauma-Informed Approach Professional, Therapy Dog Evaluator, and Family Dog Mediator™, to discuss the realities of compassion fatigue in behavior work and the importance of finding sustainable ways to care for yourself while caring for others.
Carol shares her journey into animal welfare, the emotional impact of working with aggression and trauma cases, and the lessons she's learned after decades of helping dogs and the people who love them. We also explore how movement, creativity, hobbies, and other self-care practices have become essential tools in helping her navigate the challenges of this work.
We discuss:
- Carol's path into animal welfare, rescue, and behavior work
- The hidden emotional costs of working with trauma and aggression cases
- Recognizing the signs of compassion fatigue
- How trauma affects both animals and the humans trying to help them
- The connection between movement, exercise, and emotional resilience
- The role of yoga, creativity, hobbies, and other restorative activities
- Finding meaning and purpose in difficult work
- Lessons learned from a lifetime of helping animals
Resources:
Carol's website
Sign up for my free monthly newsletter here.
Got a suggestion for a future topic? Reach out to me: jen@jenblough.com.
Interested in becoming certified in compassion fatigue? Learn more here!
Follow on social media:
Grab your free resources to help manage compassion fatigue here.
Visit my free virtual calming room here.
Get your copy of To Save a Starfish: A Compassion Fatigue Workbook for the Animal Welfare Warrior here.
Jul 9, 2026
Jul 9, 2026
13 min
In this episode of Beyond Compassion Fatigue, I open up about a recent emotional meltdown that left me overwhelmed by intrusive thoughts, painful memories, and a dysregulated nervous system. After struggling to calm down, I finally turned to a surprisingly simple grounding technique called cognitive shuffling, a science-backed tool that helped me settle down.
I explore how intrusive thoughts, trauma memories, grief, chronic stress, and secondary traumatic stress often intensify at night, especially for those working in animal care, welfare, rescue, veterinary medicine, sheltering, and activism. I explain why the harder we try to suppress distressing thoughts, the stronger they often become, and how cognitive shuffling works differently by gently redirecting the brain into a more relaxed, sleep-friendly state.
You’ll learn:
- What cognitive shuffling is and how it works
- Why intrusive thoughts and memory loops are so common in animal welfare work
- How trauma and hypervigilance affect the nervous system
- Why anxious brains struggle to “shut off” at night
- A step-by-step guide to practicing cognitive shuffling
- How this technique can help both with insomnia and emotional overwhelm
- Important reminders about using coping skills without self-judgment
- Ways to pair cognitive shuffling with other calming nervous system practices
More resources:
Sign up for my free monthly newsletter here.
Got a suggestion for a future topic? Reach out to me: jen@jenblough.com.
Interested in becoming certified in compassion fatigue? Learn more here!
Follow on social media:
Grab your free resources to help manage compassion fatigue here.
Visit my free virtual calming room here.
Get your copy of To Save a Starfish: A Compassion Fatigue Workbook for the Animal Welfare Warrior here.