Sweet strays are hard to resist

When Sarah Fallin first worked with a mutt named Lily at the Orange County Animal Shelter she tried her hardest to convince herself that she didn't need a new puppy.

But when potential adopters also took an interest in her particular pick of the litter she knew it was useless to restrain herself. Fallin took Lily off the adoption list and brought her home that day.

As the volunteer and programs coordinator at the shelter Fallin like other employees and volunteers" experiences what they call ""compassion fatigue"" on a daily basis.

Fallin said she couldn't think of an employee who hadn't adopted.

 As caretakers of abused" neglected and lost animals they must quickly learn how to keep their hearts open to the pets while at the same time knowing how to maintain distance.

And with spring in full swing the number of strays brought into the shelter is at its peak with more animals reproducing"  increasing the need for new adoptions.

""I just couldn't resist falling in love with her friendly and loving personality" Fallin said. She would crawl in your lap and fall asleep in any position" and I just couldn't believe what a laid-back puppy she was.""

Paula Morales" an animal care technician believes rewards she gets from helping animals in the shelter offset the hardships: seeing animals put to sleep" injured or abandoned.

""We go through an emotional dance every single day" Morales said. Though it's hard seeing animals that have been through so much stuck in the shelter sometimes for months" it's a high when we see people fall in love with an animal and then take it home.""

She has also taken in pets from the shelter" including two dogs and several birds. She can't bear to see animals stuck" she said. And she knows birds are often the last to leave.

""Whenever we have birds brought in" everyone here usually just looks at me" Morales said.

Volunteers say their attachment can develop from spending a few moments with a shelter dog or cat.

First-year Caroline Johnson, a volunteer with Campus Y's Helping Paws, learned first hand when she started walking a pit bull.

She used to be afraid of pit bulls, but time with Petunia changed her mind.

Whenever I'd walk her and we'd stop to sit in the grass" she'd jump right into my lap" Johnson said.

Kim Holcomb, a former animal care technician at the shelter, believes that when people pass through the shelter to find a new pet, the animal is the one who does the choosing.

These dogs know when they get adopted"" Holcomb said. You can almost hear them telling you that they're going to love you for the rest of your life.""



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