Introduction: Companion-animal veterinarians are exposed to high job demands, which may reduce job satisfaction and increase occupational strain. Understanding how personal work values and psychological resources buffer these effects is critical for promoting practitioner well-being. Purpose: This study investigated (1) the relationship between work stress and job satisfaction, (2) the mediating role of work values, and (3) the moderating role of self-compassion in the stress-satisfaction relationship among companion-animal veterinarians. Method: A total of 300 veterinarians participated via online and paper questionnaires. Measures included work stress, work values, self-compassion, and job satisfaction. Statistical analyses involved descriptive statistics, t-tests, ANOVA, correlations, hierarchical regression, and moderated mediation tests. Results: Work stress and job satisfaction varied significantly by demographic and job characteristics, with older, experienced, and higher-income veterinarians showing lower stress and higher satisfaction. Work values also differed across age, tenure, and job roles. Mediation analyses revealed that "ability utilization" and "interpersonal satisfaction" partially mediated the effect of work stress on job satisfaction, whereas material rewards did not. Moderation analyses indicated that self-kindness, mindfulness, and common humanity buffered the negative impact of work stress on job satisfaction, particularly under lower stress levels. Other components of self-compassion did not show significant moderating effects. Conclusions: The findings highlight the importance of work values and self-compassion as mechanisms linking stress and job satisfaction among veterinarians. Enhancing personal psychological resources and aligning job roles with meaningful work values may strengthen occupational well-being. Implications for organizational support, counseling interventions, and future research on veterinary work settings are discussed.