WEBVTT

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>> I Volunteer at a Senior Center,

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and I enjoy bringing
my rabbits for pet therapy.

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They already have dogs
and cats coming to facility.

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Some of the residents
have dogs or cats.

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I wanted to go
for something unique

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that would really be
special for them.

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>> Every Sunday, Michelle has been
bringing her bunnies

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for the last eighteen years.

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And the residents truly enjoy
the bunnies, as well as Michelle.

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>> They're small, they're fluffy.
They love getting attention.

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So it was a good match
with the residents.

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>> She takes them around,
and the residents hold the bunnies,

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and they feel so cuddly and they feel
so happy when they see the bunnies,

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and they look forward to it.

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Some of them don't even
go back upstairs

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after their afternoon dinner.

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>> It is amazing how it gets
people laughing and focused,

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and just out of their own space
for a little while.

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I kind of meet them where they are.
If they don't want to hold the bunny,

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if they want to just look
at the bunny,

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if they want to pat the bunny
while I'm holding it --

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it's important to meet them
where they are.

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I'm with the Office of Trade
Relations.

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We manage communications
between all the key stakeholders,

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so that everybody
who wants a voice on issues

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that impact trade
is assured a seat at the table.

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Volunteering at the Senior Center
has helped me at CBP,

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because it's taught me
flexibility and patience.

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Things don't always go
the way you've planned.

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You're going to
have to repeat yourself,

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sometimes several times,
and you just learn to be patient.

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Not everybody's heard the same thing.
You just need to go with the flow.

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It's important to give back
to the community,

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and it's such an easy
and fun way to do it,

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and it benefits everybody,
benefits the residents.

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The staff enjoy
holding the bunnies as well.

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It benefits the bunnies,
because they get social interaction.

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So it's a win-win
for everybody involved.