Being an educated volunteer about shelter and rescue animals can be one of the best things you can be to help the animals. Taking the Fear Free Shelter Program Certification can help our animals in more ways than you can imagine.
According to Fear Free,
Shelters Can Cause Animals Stress
Admission to any shelter or rescue is stressful for animals because of the abrupt change in their environment. The strange sights, smells, and sounds combined with the presence of unfamiliar people and animals cause uneasiness, thus almost all animals experience at least some degree of fear and anxiety following admission. Their day-to-day interactions may be inconsistent and unpredictable, making it difficult for them to learn what to expect and more difficult for them adapt.
The Short- & Long-Term Effects of Shelters
For all of these reasons, even short-term confinement in an animal shelter or rescue can cause severe fear, anxiety, and stress. Long-term, animals can suffer from social isolation, inadequate mental stimulation, lack of exercise, and chronic anxiety—all of which can negatively affect their physical and emotional health and lessen their chances of getting adopted. Tragically, some animals ultimately develop persistent or even lifelong emotional problems as a result of experiencing severe or chronic stress during a shelter or rescue stay.
