Limited Staff? High Turnover? You're Not Alone.

If you work in animal rescue, you already know the feeling. There's always one more kennel to clean, one more intake to process, one more adopter to follow up with — and never quite enough people to make it all happen. Staffing is one of the biggest pain points in shelter work, and turnover makes it even harder. You train someone, invest in them, and then they're gone.

It's a tough gig. But it's not impossible. Here are some practical, forward-thinking ways shelters are tackling high turnover and limited staff — without burning out the people who stay.

Finding Candidates (Without a Big Budget)

You don't need a recruiter or a fancy careers page. Start simple. Create a free Indeed account and post your open positions — it's still one of the most effective ways to reach people who are actively looking for work. Print a QR code that links to your job application and post it right in your shelter lobby. The people walking through your doors already care about animals — some of them might be your next great hire.

If you don't have an applicant tracking system, don't sweat it. Build a free application using Google Forms and embed it directly on your website. It's professional enough, it's easy to manage, and it costs you nothing.

Interviewing: Look for Heart and Boundaries

Here's the honest truth — you're going to go through a lot of candidates. On average, expect about a 1 in 10 ratio for someone who's truly a good fit. That's okay. It's better to take your time than to rush a hire who burns out in three months.

When you're interviewing, you obviously want someone with heart. But you also want someone who understands boundaries. Compassion fatigue is real in this field, and people who don't acknowledge it — or think it won't happen to them — are a turnover risk. Ask about it directly. There's no shame in it, and the right candidates will respect you for bringing it up.

One more thing: consider making a working volunteer shift part of your interview process. Let candidates spend time with the animals and your team before you commit. It tells you more than any interview question ever will.

And when people do leave? Do an exit interview. Staff who are walking out the door will tell you things your current team won't. That feedback is gold — use it to keep the next person longer.

Keeping the Team You've Built

Retention isn't just about pay — though let's be real, fair compensation matters. If you can advocate for better wages, do it. But even when budgets are tight, there are things you can do that cost very little and mean a lot.

Foster mental health and build resilience around compassion fatigue. Talk about it openly. Normalize taking breaks. Bring in a counselor if you can, or at minimum, create a culture where people can say "today was hard" without judgment.

Let staff cross-train across departments — medical, behavior, adoption counseling, social media, even fundraising. People stay when they're growing. When every day feels the same, that's when they start looking elsewhere.

Celebrate every win, even the hard ones. The dog who finally got adopted after six months. The kitten who pulled through. The day you didn't lose anyone. These moments matter, and acknowledging them builds a team that wants to stick around.

And finally — let your staff have a voice. Include them in policy changes, animal decisions, and shelter improvements. When people feel ownership over their work, loyalty follows. Nobody wants to just be told what to do. They want to be part of something.

You're Not in This Alone

Running a shelter with limited staff is exhausting. But every small improvement you make — a better hiring process, a more honest interview, a culture that values its people — compounds over time. You don't have to fix everything at once. Start with one thing this week.