Alpina
Alpina is a llama and a nurse at a community health clinic in We Can Fix Pawbert. She appears in S04E02 "Unboxed" during Pawbert's first medical appointment following his release from Zootopia Correctional Facility.
Background
Alpina works at a community health clinic that serves mammals on a sliding-scale payment system. The clinic is designed to accommodate mammals of all sizes and backgrounds, providing accessible healthcare to underserved populations including recently released inmates.
Personality
Alpina is warm and professional, putting patients at ease while maintaining clinical efficiency. Like her colleague Dr. Mato, she practices consent-forward care, explaining each step of her procedures before performing them and giving patients the opportunity to ask her to stop at any time.
Key personality traits:
- Warm — Greets patients with a genuine smile
- Professional — Efficiently handles intake procedures
- Communicative — Explains every action before taking it
- Reassuring — Creates a comfortable environment for nervous patients
Series History
Season 4
Alpina appears in S04E02 "Unboxed" when Pawbert arrives at the community health clinic for his first checkup since release. She enters from the back of the clinic wearing scrubs and calls Pawbert's name with a warm smile.
In the exam room, Alpina takes Pawbert's vital signs including blood pressure, temperature, and weight. Throughout each step, she explains what she's doing and asks for consent before proceeding. When taking his blood pressure, she tells him he can ask her to stop at any time if he needs a break.
This approach contrasts sharply with the impersonal, scheduled nature of prison medical care where consent was never requested. The simple statement that he can ask her to stop lands with unexpected weight for Pawbert, representing one of many small moments of reclaimed autonomy on his second day of freedom.
After completing the intake procedures, Alpina hands Pawbert off to Dr. Mato for the examination proper.
Key Relationships
Dr. Mato
Works alongside the clinic physician, preparing patients for examinations by taking vitals and establishing the consent-forward care model before the doctor enters.
Pawbert Pawthorne
A brief professional interaction that nonetheless contributes to Pawbert's reintegration experience, demonstrating that healthcare outside prison can be respectful and consensual.
Key Lines
| Line | Context | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| "I'm going to take your blood pressure now. Is that okay?" | S04E02 | Asking consent before a routine procedure |
| "You can tell me to stop at any time. If you need a break, just say the word." | S04E02 | Establishing patient autonomy |
Trivia
- Alpina is part of a clinic team that practices trauma-informed care, recognizing how institutional experiences like incarceration can affect a mammal's comfort with medical procedures.
- Her brief appearance represents the first of many small acts of respect that Pawbert experiences on his second day of freedom, collectively helping him adjust to life outside prison.