Brother and sister duo tackle the animal care world together

Autistic siblings Odin and Elektra joined Happy Paws Happy Hearts in June 2020 – just two months after the location opened in Toowoomba. A wonderfully unique duo with similarly unique named after Greek Gods, their favourite animals aren’t your typical household pets.  

Younger sister, Elektra loves sharks because they remind her of their pre-historic cousin, the megalodon. Older brother Odin has a favourite land, aquatic and flying animals: wolves, dolphins and owls, respectively. 

Both are enrolled in the employment pathways program, Explore – preparing them for return-to-life pathways such as volunteering, work or further study.  

“I joined to get a better understanding about animals, learn new skills, techniques, awareness and other things relating to animals while building communication skills and bettering myself,” Odin says.  

“I joined to give me confidence, make friends, and work with animals,” Elektra says. 

They both feel passionate about the difference they are making in the lives of rescue animals at RSPCA Toowoomba, being able to help around the shelter and providing much needed 1:1 time with the animals in sessions setting them up for adoption success.  

“I’m proud of helping some of the animals in the shelter that need more specific care, such as timid animals. Every day is something different, something new to learn,” Odin says.  

Over the past three years, Odin has learned how to keep himself safe and what to do if he ever meets an animal not in a shelter environment. As a result, Elektra says her social anxiety has improved dramatically.  

Happy Paws Happy Hearts has become a fun, safe space for the super siblings, and they look forward to coming to their weekly sessions to help with the rescue animals in need of hands-on time and learning new skills along the way. 

“Happy Paws Happy Hearts feels comforting and relaxing, especially having such lovely, caring, kind instructors that are patient, easy-going and fun to interact and learn with,” Odin says.  

“Coming to Happy Paws Happy Hearts makes me feel excited to see people and the animals I can talk to and help,” Elektra says. 

Odin is a big fan of Happy Paws Happy Hearts, recommending it to everyone, especially those that may need help or have a disability.  

“(Happy Paws Happy Hearts) gives people like me, my sister, and other participants something to do, learn and possibly seek out jobs that revolves around animals,” Odin says. 

“The instructors that run the programs are some of the best people I can possibly imagine that can help us with different levels of disabilities and anxiety. They make us feel welcome and make us enjoy coming to every session and look forward to the next one.”