When I submitted an application to volunteer at a local animal shelter, I thought I’d just be walking dogs outside – a good fit for my solitary nature. I couldn’t wait to let them out of their kennels to roam and sniff and enjoy some fresh air. That lasted two weeks. Because where I was truly needed, it turned out, was the front desk. This was command central of a busy community hot spot, and way outside my comfort zone. I’d be answering phones, helping with adoptions, and doing intake on everything from chinchillas to fallen baby owls to sunburned pigs.  My first hurdle was the phone. I assumed callers’ questions would be along the lines of, “What are your hours today?” or “Do you have any calico kittens?”  Why We Wrote This A novice volunteer discovers that the most unlikely creatures – and adopters – often carry the biggest lessons about compassion. I assumed wrong. During any given shift, no two calls were ever alike.…