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Meet Paityn and Helena, two friends from from Eden Prairie High School donating their time as a superstar duo. Helena stepped up to join the Mission volunteer team as a way to work toward her National Honor Society volunteer goals, and Paityn just wants to give back to her community and help animals in need. They can be found weekly tackling laundry and flush syringes or even helping Volunteer Manager, Megan, orientate new volunteers. In just over a month, she has volunteered nearly 21 hours at the hospital. We are so thankful for their contribution to our volunteer team and look forward to seeing the great things they will continue to achieve in the future.
Why do you volunteer with Mission Animal Hospital?
Paityn: I volunteer because I love animals and want to get exposure to veterinary medicine.
Helena: I decided to volunteer with the Mission Animal Hospital because I am interested in medicine and LOVE animals.
What's your favorite volunteer task in the hospital?
Paityn: I like cleaning surgical equipment because I can see procedures from where I clean.
Helena: I really enjoy filling the flush syringes because it makes me feel like a real doctor.
What do you do when you're not volunteering here?
Paityn: I hangout with my friends, lots of studying, and hangout with my pets.
Helena: I like to be with friends and family. I have a job i work at.
Do you have any pets?
Paityn: I have four guinea pigs and two dogs, Spud, Dante, Adam, and Ronan are the guinea pigs, and Carlton and Chloe are my dogs.
Helena: I have three dogs, a pit bull mix named Zeus, a german shepherd mix named Poncho, and a miniature dachshund named Nona.
Tell us about a pet that had a big impact on your life.
Paityn: My dog Lucy had a huge impact on my life, she was one of my first dogs and the most loyal dog I have ever known.
Helena: I had a rescue dog named Jude who I had been with my whole life and when he died it was devastating. I loved him a lot and it was hard losing a friend i had grown up with.
What's the most memorable moment in your time volunteering with Mission Animal Hospital?
Paityn: Probably when I met Biggie the cat, he was really cute.
Helena: Just getting to meet all the animals is amazing. Me and Paityn met a staff cat named Tiger and he was the cutest guy ever. We had a lot of fun talking to him.