A confidential survey is currently being conducted to explore the issue of moral stress among state veterinary officers—veterinarians employed by any level of government, including:
- Local veterinary field offices
- Regional, state, or federal headquarters
- Slaughterhouses and border control posts
- Official veterinary laboratories
- Intergovernmental veterinary organisations
Why This Survey Matters
The survey has been launched as part of a master’s dissertation in International Animal Welfare, Ethics and Law at the University of Edinburgh and is supported by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Ireland).
The goal is to investigate moral stress—a form of distress experienced when one knows what ethical action should be taken, but feels unable to act due to constraints.
While moral stress is suspected to be a hidden but widespread issue in veterinary services, especially in government roles, little structured data is currently available. This survey seeks to change that.
About the Survey
- Anonymous and compliant with University of Edinburgh’s ethical and data protection standards
- Developed in collaboration with veterinary and non-veterinary researchers
- Piloted with practising state veterinary officers
- Takes approximately 25 minutes to complete
- Designed to inform practical recommendations for individuals and institutions
📅 Deadline: 1 August 2025
📨 Survey Link: https://app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/edinburgh/survey-moral-stress-in-state-veterinarians
💙 A Donation for Every Response
To support veterinarians worldwide, €1 will be donated to the VIN Foundation’s VETS4VETS service for each valid completed survey:
🌐 vinfoundation.org/resources/vets4vets
