Sustaining Compassion: Tools for Animal Caretakers

Resilience is not about being untouched by stress—it is about learning how to recover, adapt, and continue showing up with compassion even after difficult experiences. In this episode of Strides to Solutions, Esther Adams introduces five research-based skills that help caretakers sustain their well-being: self-regulation, intentionality, perceptual reframing, connection and support, and self-care and revitalization. Listeners will hear how these skills translate into practical strategies like mindfulness, journaling, peer support, and daily routines, as well as examples from shelters and veterinary clinics that have successfully built healthier cultures. This episode is a roadmap for sustaining compassion in both personal and professional caregiving roles.