Just a Dog : Understanding Animal Cruelty and Ourselves

Occupational Stress in Veterinary Nurses: Roles of the Work Environment and Own Companion Animal

“…Rohlf and Bennett's (2005) research on veterinary nurses indicated that the euthanasia of a companion animal which employees may have treated for many years, yields high levels of emotional distress and grief. Veterinarians have also reported fewer emotional difficulties euthanizing animals they had not seen before (Arluke 2006). Karasek and Theorell's (1990) Demand-Control-Support (DCS) model describes how perception of the work environment as high in job demands and low in job control is associated with job strain, while perceived adequacy of social support at work is expected to protect against job strain.…”

“…Working in the veterinary industry has been argued to impose unique stressors on employees (Arluke 1991;White and Shawhan 1996;Frommer and Arluke 1999;Arluke 2006). The effects of work-related stressors on psychological well-being have been associated with compassion fatigue (i.e., emotional exhaustion and fatigue from work) and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD ;Figley 1995;McNair 2002).…”

“…Perceived level of social support from management and co-workers has been previously linked to work stress in companion animal occupations (Van Soest and Fritschi 2004;Rohlf and Bennett 2005). Past research indicates that workers directly involved in performing euthanasia of animals are at the highest risk of occupational stress, especially if an employee develops an attachment to an animal (Reeve et al 2004;Rohlf and Bennett 2005;Arluke 2006). Rohlf and Bennett's (2005) research on veterinary nurses indicated that the euthanasia of a companion animal which employees may have treated for many years, yields high levels of emotional distress and grief.…”

“…Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at http:// www.tandfonline.com/page/terms-and-conditions Veterinary practices and their staff have an important role in animal health care but also meet the needs of the animals' owners and caregivers; sometimes these two sets of needs are in conflict. The detrimental effects of occupational stress in human service professions are well established, but few studies have specifically examined work-related stressors in the veterinary nursing profession (Arluke 1991;Hart and Mader 1995;Frommer and Arluke 1999;Van Soest and Fritschi 2004;Reeve et al 2004;Rohlf and Bennett 2005;Arluke 2006). Moreover, none are based on theoretical premises of organizational or health psychology.…”

Animals as Lifechangers and Lifesavers

“…This intersection of topics engages this research with several literatures. The analysis has an obvious affinity for the literature on human-animal interaction, and it adds a previously unarticulated role for animals to this body of work (Arluke 1987(Arluke , 2002(Arluke , 2003(Arluke , 2004(Arluke , 2006(Arluke , 2010Arluke and Sanders 1996;Fitzgerald 2007;Flynn 2000aFlynn , 2000bIrvine 2004aIrvine , 2004bJerolmack 2007aJerolmack , 2007bJerolmack , 2009Sanders 1990Sanders , 1991Sanders , 1993Sanders , 2003Sanders , 2007. It also adds to the literature on the construction of self-worth among the homeless and the marginal (Anderson and Snow 2001;Gowan 2010;Snow and Anderson 1993;Wasserman and Clair 2010).…”