Paulina
she/her/hers
Kennel Assistant
Role at PAWS
I am a kennel assistant at PAWS, so my job is to disinfect and tidy up the animals' kennels to make sure they have the cleanest possible homes at the shelter. I help the volunteers with feeding, medicating, laundry, dishes, and any other miscellaneous tasks that need done. I work on both the dog and cat sides, and I also walk dogs whenever I get the chance :)
Time with PAWS
I have been working at PAWS since January of 2022, with a break during this past year while I was away at college.
My pet at home
My family dog, Tosha the poodle! He's an old man, almost 15 years old, but definitely still a puppy at heart!
Here's him stealing the spotlight at my senior photo session
Favorite thing about PAWS
My favorite thing about PAWS is seeing both volunteers and staff caring for the animals as if they were their own. I see so many volunteers coming in on their days off, after long days at work, on holidays, or stepping in to cover shifts that are shorthanded, just to walk one dog or cuddle up with a cat for a few minutes. Some volunteers will take dogs out for long hikes or introduce them to their own pets on their own time, just to give them an extra chance for socialization. The pure commitment, dedication, and love everyone at PAWS has for taking care of our animals is incredible; it makes our shelter a uniquely safe and comforting place for animals to stay until they can find their forever homes.
Thing most proud of about time at PAWS
The thing I'm most proud of about my time at PAWS is being able to contribute to the growth of many dogs from nervous, distressed animals into ones that are happy, healthy, well-fed, and want to cuddle up to any human they meet. I see many dogs come into the shelter that have been abandoned, traumatized by their environment, and find it difficult to trust people, but nearly all of them are able to turn that around. It's a great feeling to be able to befriend dogs that were once hesitant about people, and watch them grow into sociable, playful, energetic, and loving animals.
What you can usually be found doing outside of work
Outside of work, I'm usually taking dance classes, reading, experimenting with new recipes, or hiking. I also love to travel and explore new places.
Favorite Book
My favorite book since I first read it in middle school has been The Book Thief - really sad, but a fantastic story.
Favorite Movie
The movie I saw most recently was Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. Even as a history/archaeology nerd, I'm willing to overlook the historical inaccuracies because Indiana Jones movies are classics :) I also love anything by Wes Anderson, so I was a big fan of Asteroid City.