Volunteer Spotlight: Shree

Meet Shree. Shree is a busy junior in high at Eden Prairie High School. She joined our volunteer team last school year as sophomore simply wanting to give back to her community. She found time to volunteer over the summer despite her busy travel schedule, and has even been in since returning to school. She's volunteered nearly 25 hours in the hospital, and we are delighted she's made us part of her volunteer journey!

Why is volunteering important to you, and why do you volunteer with Mission 

Animal Hospital?

Volunteering is important to me because it helps me feel more connected to the community and makes me feel like I’m making a difference. One reason why I volunteer with Mission is because ever since I was little, I’ve always been passionate towards animals, and I spent my childhood binging Wild Kratts. Volunteering at Mission and seeing all the animals makes my day, and I love knowing that I am making a difference for them. 

What's your favorite volunteer task in the hospital?

My favorite volunteer task in the hospital is filling the flush syringes. I love blasting music in my airpods while filling and labeling the syringes, it’s super satisfying once I finish! 

What do you do when you're not volunteering here?

When I’m not volunteering at Mission Animal Hospital, you could probably catch me with my friends or playing volleyball. My friends are some of the dearest people to me, and I spend most of my free time with them. 

Do you have any pets? If so, tell us about them.

I’ve never had a pet in my life, but I have always wanted one! Even though I haven’t had one, my best friend had a yellow lab named Bailey, and he was the sweetest. When he was a puppy, he loved jumping all over people and licking them. My best friend and I were neighbors, and I used to play with Bailey every single day. Even though my friend moved away, I still visit her and Bailey! 

Tell us about a pet that had a big impact on your life.

A pet that had a big impact on my life was one of my family member’s puppies. It was my first time visiting them, and I was around 5 or 6 years old. I got to spend so much time playing with them, and that's what started my love for animals.

What's the most memorable moment in your time volunteering with Mission Animal Hospital?

One of the most memorable moments at Mission was one of my last shifts before school started, and I would have to take a little break from volunteering. A kitten who was at the hospital kept whining in her cage, and seemed super upset. I was folding surgical drapes next to her, and I felt super bad. One of the technicians noticed the whining, and she started to comfort the kitten. The technician

spoke to her in a baby voice, and eventually, the kitten stopped whining. Even though it was a little moment, it warmed my heart!