Animal sheltering: A scoping literature review grounded in institutional ethnography

Abstract

A diverse research literature now exists on the animals, staff and organisations involved in animal sheltering. We reviewed this research through the lens of institutional ethnography, a method of inquiry that focuses on the actual work that people do within institutions. The main topics, identified through a larger ethnographic study of animal sheltering, were: (i) research about shelter staff and officers; (ii) the relinquishment of animals to shelters; and (iii) animals’ length of stay in shelters. After reviewing the literature, we held focus groups with shelter personnel to explore how their work experiences are or are not represented in the research. The review showed that stress caused by performing euthanasia has attracted much research, but the decision-making that leads to euthanasia, which may involve multiple staff and potential conflict, has received little attention. Research on ‘compassion fatigue’ has also tended to focus on euthanasia but a granular description about the practical and emotional work that personnel undertake that generates such fatigue is missing. Published research on both relinquishment and length of stay is dominated by metrics (questionnaires) and often relies upon shelter records, despite their limitations. Less research has examined the actual work processes involved in managing relinquishment as well as monitoring and reducing animals’ length of stay. Institutional ethnography’s focus on people’s work activities can provide a different and more nuanced understanding of what is happening in animal sheltering and how it might better serve the needs of the animals and staff.

Using institutional ethnography to analyse animal sheltering and protection II: Animal shelter work

“…Future research, which might be participatory research involving shelter staff and managers, as well as volunteers, could assess whether and how work designated as behaviour modification may be interconnected with other important relational work between staff and animals, including the daily interactions that staff and volunteers have with animals. As well, research that describes the process of making euthanasia decisions, for example, describing the information gathered about animals, use of frameworks like the Asilomar Accords, as well as the individuals involved (Koralesky et al 2023a ) might provide insight into how and when euthanasia decisions are made for animals with behavioural problems.…”

“…We conducted four virtual focus groups on Zoom video communications software in early 2021 with BC SPCA personnel. Detailed methods are presented in Koralesky et al ( 2023a ). Briefly, the BC SPCA assisted with participant recruitment by sending a letter of invitation to all staff involved with animal management.…”

“…The goal of such research is to determine how shelters can promote adoption of certain animals (e.g. older animals), better understand adopter preferences and prevent euthanasia by adopting animals more quickly (Koralesky et al 2023a ). Such research typically relies upon categories of animals and calculates measures of central tendency (e.g.…”

“…What is less well understood, however, is how the everyday work of frontline shelter staff is connected to institutionalised processes and policies linked to C4C and specifically with animals that have behavioural or veterinary problems. These exceptional animals can spend long periods in shelters and are becoming more common in shelters today (Koralesky et al 2023a ). This paper presents the case of Henry, a dog who spent 60 days in a shelter and was eventually euthanased – the opposite outcome of what animal shelters aim to achieve for healthy animals that do not pose a risk to public safety.…”