"It's great to have this new job, I'm really impressed with my staff and I've always loved working with animals," said Wasson, 36.

Wasson, who was hired in January, began her career after high school managing the Peninsula Humane Society, then ran her own business, boarding pets in San Francisco. Before being hired for her new position Wasson worked as Customer Care Associate at Humane Society Silicon Valley.

Wasson, who has a catahoula dog and three cats, said the shelter's Web site is a big help for her and her staff in helping people adopt and reclaim lost animals.

"We have a really good reclaim rate after we post pictures of the lost animals at www.southcountypets.com," said Wasson.

"So if you're at work and don't have time to come to the shelter and check you can at least go online. There's also a lot of communication between shelters on reclaiming animals … Our main goal is to have a 100 percent adoption rate," she said. Check out: A video of Wasson showing off some of the shelter's available pets on GilroyTV.com.

The national average of animal adoptions is about 25 percent. The shelter has a positive outcome with about 70 percent of animals being adopted or reclaimed, according to Wasson.

One of Wasson's staff, kennel attendant Jeremy Selbach, saw a lost dog named "Chispita" reunited with her family Wednesday.

"They came to pick up their cocker spaniel and all the kids were so excited to see her," said Selbach. "We made her a name tag in case she gets picked up again."

Wasson was hired after an extensive recruitment process according to Greg Van Wassenhove, who oversees the shelter as the director of agricultural and environmental management for Santa Clara County.

"She's really added another dimension to the shelter," said Van Wassenhove. "Her knowledge of animal behavior and tendencies has taught the staff how to place an animal in the right home. She's really making some tremendous improvements by encouraging more volunteers at the shelter."

A total of about 3,500 animals pass in and out of the shelter each year. There is space for about 30 dogs and as many as 40 cats.

"That's why we rely on the foster program, like the one at Friends of San Martin Animal Shelter," said Van Wassenhove. "They house and find the animals like newborn dogs and kitten until they're of adoption age."

Wasson plans to stay busy with events and promotions to increase adoption.

"In May we'll have an adopt-a-thon," she said. "It's a national event and lots of shelters across the country hold them. The Humane Society funds special events like 'adopt-a-cat month' and they'll give us lots of posters and material for the radio on that."

In addition, the shelter is always looking for volunteers.

The shelter is conveniently located near a neutering clinic and an animal hospital, and is now open seven days a week. It was previously closed Tuesdays. It has served the unincorporated areas of Santa Clara County for more than 35 years.

The new hours will provide an additional option for residents to adopt an animal, find a lost animal or bring in feral cats and dogs, said Santa Clara County Supervisor Don Gage.

Also across a field from the shelter is the San Martin Airport. If airport officials decide to expand to service planes larger than the small private ones flying over the shelter, Wasson might have to face the possibility of relocating the facility.

"The airport expansion plan takes into account the need to relocate the shelter, simple as that," said Van Wassenhove. "The board and the county are aware of it."

Animal shelter facts

Where: 12370 Murphy Ave.,

San Martin

Hours: 12 to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday; 12 to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; closed on holidays.

Details: 686-3900 or visit www.southcountypets.com

The shelter provides these services

• Accepts lost, stray or owner-surrendered animals

• Rescues, cares for injured and stray dogs, cats and other domestic animals

• Reunites owners with lost pets

• Provides adoption program to place unwanted pets with new homes

• Provides referrals for low-cost spay and neuter, testing and vaccinations for stray or feral cats