Underserved and Overburdened: An Ethnographic Examination of Rural Animal Sheltering

Abstract

In the US, rural communities face unique challenges to companion animal sheltering and welfare. Smaller municipalities often serve socially vulnerable populations but lack the fiscal and administrative capacity to provide robust public services, leaving animal welfare under-resourced and deprioritized relative to other community needs. This study draws on interviews and ethnographic observations with shelter workers and animal rescuers in Oklahoma, a state with a large rural population, to better understand the organization and challenges of rural animal welfare services. Findings show large "shelter deserts" in rural areas, where many residents have limited or no access to public animal services and killing remains the predominant form of population control. As a result, the bulk of rural animal welfare work falls on volunteer or poorly paid rescuers. While some rural communities have successfully transitioned to "no kill" through relocation programs that move shelter animals out of state, animal welfare organizations continue to struggle with funding, staffing, and market access. Through three case studies, this article illuminates the common challenges and varied strategies rural communities employ to address service gaps and pursue the "no-kill" ideal in the absence of a sustained public commitment to providing "standard of care" animal welfare services. We conclude by discussing future research that can assess the generalizability of our findings and implications for animal welfare policy.