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Drawing from her knowledge of infants in the care of neonatal intensive care units, Patton and her colleagues held the mouse on their should.

“I know from NICUs that skin-t0-skin contact is really important.”

They also gave the mouse water, and another volunteer had some protein powder, which was mixed into the water to give the mouse some proper sustenance.

Even so, Patton said, they weren’t sure the mouse would make it through the night.

The mouse now seems to be fully recovered and has been adopted by one of the volunteers, and is being called Snuggles.

“It’s a feel-good story,” Patton said.

“A very, very cuddly mouse,” Blyth said. “It’s obvious it’s used to people.”

The mouse is the pet of a local resident who the OPS team knows. They brought the mouse in, hoping they could help. They’re now going into de-tox, and Patton has agreed to look after their small friend in the mean time.

“It’s important people have trust like this,” she said. “That’s the big piece. Even being able to have a conversation about detox is part of the process.”

Another volunteer is looking after another patient’s dog while they are in de-tox, she noted.

“That’s the piece I love,” she said about being someone who can be a trusting, helping face for residents in the Downtown Eastside. “I’m here because I love it.”

“We have such a lovely crew of volunteers,” Blyth said. “This is just another instance.”

The OPS operation is seeing 600 people per day — a statement about the quality of care provided by the volunteers, she said.

“They’re so capable and willing to help anybody.”

Or now, anything.