Eimanne El Zein is not your typical 14-year-old. She has traveled the world, makes short films, and cares an awful lot about animals.

Eimanne has three rats and two cats of her own. The youngest cat, named Sammy, she adopted at a shelter during a visit to Germany.

There's also her shepherd-Husky mix Ringo. After Laura Daugereau became the first Washington woman to complete the Iditarod, Eimanne contacted her to learn more out about sled racing. She and Ringo have since taken up mushing with a dog cart she found on E-bay. One day not far away she plans to race the Iditarod herself.

Currently a freshman at Shorecrest High School, Eimanne is a member of the Humane Teen Club at the Seattle Humane Society. The club was started in 2002 to provide volunteer opportunities for young people and expose them to the benefits of animal companionship.

Humane Teens attend monthly meetings over the course of the school year. They learn handling skills for dogs, cats and small animals like rabbits and guinea pigs. "I liked the cat training best so far," says Eimanne. "I thought I knew a lot about cats already, but I really learned a lot."

They also participate in community outreach activities and must complete a service project in order to graduate. For her project, Eimanne organized the Furry Friends Skate Day and silent auction at Lynwood Ice Center. She promoted the event, sold tickets and solicited donations from downtown Edmonds businesses for the auction.

She raised nearly $1,000 for SHS that February day. Eimanne says, "If it hadn't been so sunny, we might have done even better." See Eimanne's film of the event here:

The club is run by the SHS Education Department. "We are able to teach our Humane Teens a lot about animals and community service," says Kate Reedy, Education Director. "The excitement they bring to everything we do in the program is so infectious, and it really feeds back into our organization as a whole and helps keep us current."

The Humane Teen Club is open to 13- to 15-year-olds, and applications are accepted in July and August for the following school year. Successful graduates can go on to hold regular volunteer positions. For more information, visit the SHS Web site.