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Compassion fatigue and burnout are mental health issues that are being recognized in animal shelter workers much more frequently. These are major public health concerns because they can cause long-term physical and mental health side effects. Experiencing long-term compassion fatigue and burnout can also lead to decreased satisfaction at work and high rates of employee turnover. A better understanding of potential contributors to compassion fatigue and burnout in animal shelter employees would allow animal shelters to improve their recognition and response.For this study, a national cross-sectional survey was performed, asking participants about their own experience with compassion fatigue and/or burnout. Additional questions were asked to help identify potential risk factors, including demographics, decision-making, workplace activities (animal intake, cruelty/neglect cases, and euthanasia), and coping mechanisms. Univariable logistic regression analyses were performed for each of the survey questions against compassion fatigue and burnout separately to determine which variables were statistically significant at contributing to currently experiencing compassion fatigue and burnout.It was determined that age, adequate time to complete work, enough staff, effective coping mechanisms, helping with animal intake, working with individuals surrendering animals or facing difficult life situations, assisting/performing euthanasia, and euthanizing for space were statistically significant when compared to currently experiencing compassion fatigue. It was determined that age, not having effective coping mechanisms, not being compensated appropriately, and not having adequate time to complete work were statistically significant when compared with currently experiencing burnout.Multivariable logistic regression analyses were also performed to investigate qualified variables and compassion fatigue and burnout. When looking at the multivariable logistic regression analysis for compassion fatigue, age, effective coping mechanisms, and euthanasia decisions where space capacity within the shelter played a role were considered statistically significant. When looking at the multivariable logistic regression analysis for burnout, age, effective coping mechanisms, and adequate time to complete work were all considered statistically significant. Understanding the causes behind compassion fatigue and burnout in animal shelter employees allows animal shelters to help combat these public health concerns and help maintain employees and support a positive and healthy work environment. Animal shelters should focus on appropriate staffing and compensation, mental health resources, and ensuring that they are providing their staff with an appropriate amount of time to complete work to help combat compassion fatigue and burnout.