Volunteer Spotlight: Joelle

Mission Animal Hospital is delighted to announce this month’s Volunteer Spotlight, Joelle, an inspiring student volunteer who is already putting her passion for veterinary medicine into action. Heading into her senior year of high school, Joelle plans to pursue a veterinary technician program after graduation—and she’s getting valuable hands-on experience at Mission along the way. Since beginning her volunteer journey in April, Joelle quickly became self-sufficient and proved herself ready for more. She has since joined our High Quality High Volume (HQHV) Spay/Neuter volunteer team, where she has received additional training and become an important part of these fast-paced clinic days. HQHV partners with rescue organizations across Minnesota to provide a more economical option for spay and neuter services, performing 20–30 surgeries in a single day. Behind the scenes, volunteers like Joelle keep the day moving by cleaning and sterilizing instruments, assembling surgical packs, labeling supplies, and running them through the autoclave. With nearly 65 volunteer hours already under her belt, Joelle has quickly become a fantastic addition to the team, and we’re thrilled to have her helping Mission—and learning along the way!

What first inspired you to volunteer with Mission Animal Hospital?

My love for animals and wanting to be more involved in a community. 

Can you share one of your favorite moments or memories from volunteering here?

My favorite memory was working my first HQHV shift and checking in a group of cats named after Taco Bell items. 

What do you enjoy most about being part of the Mission volunteer community?

Getting to experience working in an animal hospital and to be as helpful as possible!

How has volunteering at Mission impacted you personally or professionally?

Volunteering at mission really sparked my interest in the veterinary field and helped motivate me to further my education.

Do you have a favorite task, shift, or area of the hospital you love helping with?

I love working in HQHV! (High Quality High Volume Spay/Neuter Clinic)

What do you wish more people knew about Mission Animal Hospital or the volunteer program?

I wish more people knew that there is a lot of animals, surgeries and procedures that you get to see while volunteering a shift! 

Tell us a little about yourself outside of Mission — pets, hobbies, fun facts, or anything that brings you joy!

I have a pet cat and she just turned one year old! I love crocheting, skateboarding and going for hikes! I’m going into my senior year of high school and plan to start a vet tech program after graduation!