Loving the Unloved: Role of Empathy in the Motivation of Animal Shelter Volunteers

Abstract

HalFdead animals wasting in the streets are just one of the common scenes that play out on the streets of cities of a rapidly urbanizing and developing country like the Philippines. While some of these animals are condemned to survive in deplorable and unforgiving environments, there are a lucky few that get rescued and given a second chance in life. It is through animal welfare groups powered largely by volunteers that make this possible. What exactly makes these people go out of their way to help the distressed and suffering animals? This study investigates the role of animal-directed empathy in the motivation of animal shelter volunteers. It is because of their past experiences of caring for animals and their relationships with their past and present pets that allow them to feel a special connection with animals. Cats and dogs are no longer viewed as just animals; members of these species come to posses socially constructed meanings that are formed in accordance to volunteers, perceptions and understandings of the animals. The researcher chose to interview the volunteers at the PAWS Animal Rehabilitation Center which is considered the first animal shelter in the country. She then interviewed the volunteers that were present during her visits with semi-structured interview guides. Their responses were then analyzed and common themes and responses were clustered. The study found that animal-directed empathy does originate from past experiences of caring for animals as well as possessing positive attitudes towards these animals. Because of their empathy, they feel distress when they witness animals in pain and they felt that joining animal welfare organization, in this case volunteering at an animal shelter, is one way to help these animals. The behavior of volunteering is altruistic behavior as it is only the animals and their future adopters that benefit from the efforts of the volunteers.