FOR THE LOVE OF ANIMALS CHILDHOOD INSTINCT BECOMES WOMAN'S PASSION.

Byline: RICK COCA Valley News Writer

Diane Doyle has a thing about creatures. As a child, growing up back East, she spent hours rescuing ladybugs out of the family pool and had a knack for finding stray, sickly cats, which she'd bring home to nurse back to health.

``My parents love animals, but there's some sensibility that I was born with, a joy and a curse,'' Doyle said. ``I have no say in it. (I) was always looking for (an animal) to look at it, save it, help it.''

Today, Doyle expresses her compassion for animals through her work with the nonprofit organization Best Friends Animal Society, a group that operates the largest animal homeless shelter in the nation, with the hope of finding homes for the animals in its care.

The organization, whose motto is: ``A better world through kindness to animals,'' is also working toward eliminating animal homelessness, with special focus on specific cities, including Los Angeles. The group also worked extensively on the animal-rescue effort following the flooding after Hurricane Katrina.

The group sponsors numerous ``Super Adoption'' events in and around Los Angeles, including two previous ones at Woodley Park in Van Nuys and Johnny Carson Park in Burbank.

Doyle uses her graphic artist expertise to help design the organization's banners, fliers and posters. She's also done plenty of the nitty gritty work including helping with events and driving rescued animals to Best Friends' sanctuary in Utah.

She said the organization has grown extensively in Los Angeles, from its grass-roots days when it was just a dozen people trying to help animals. Today the group's adoption events involve multiple animal rescue agencies, resulting in the adoption of hundreds upon hundreds of animals.

The group's black-tie event, the ``Lint Roller Party,'' has attracted celebrities such as Charlize Theron. Doyle said one magazine called the red-carpet fundraiser one of the 10 best things to do in Los Angeles.

Doyle became involved with the Best Friends group in 1992, after meeting one of the founders sitting behind a little card table outside of Mrs. Gooch's Market on Coldwater Canyon and Riverside Drive in Sherman Oaks.

She said in years past, she had been involved with other animal-rights organizations but wasn't comfortable with some of the confrontational tactics used by those organizations.

``There's a lot of hurt, a lot of emotion when you deal with abused animals,'' Doyle said. ``(Sometimes) animal-rights groups get caught up in the pain.''

She prefers Best Friends' nonconfrontational approach.

``It's all about kindness,'' Doyle said. ``It's not OK to scream at people and tell them they're doing wrong. You have to be nice and kind to people.''

Doyle said the group participated extensively in the Hurricane Katrina animal-rescue effort. At its Utah sanctuary, the group received many calls from concerned New Orleans residents as water levels rose higher and higher.

``People would be calling on their cell phones, saying, `My dog is on the roof, I'm losing my signal.'''

She said many residents refused to leave without their pets. The organization set up several dozen of feeding stations for stray animals. And in one memorable moment, after spotting a boat that had ``dog on boat'' painted on it, the group helped rescue a white bull-terrier onboard.

Doyle said her service with the organization has been very satisfying, especially since she's able to use her skills as a graphic artist. For years, she regretted not becoming a veterinarian or a marine biologist.

``I thought I missed the boat because I wasn't educated (in some animal field), but it turns out I have a skill that's pretty valuable and pretty viable and helps make a difference with the animals.''

For upcoming Best Friends Animal Society events, call [phone], or go to www.bestfriends.org/LA for more information.

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(1 -- 2) Left, This dog seems to be enjoying all the attention it's getting from a potential owner at a Best Friends Animal Society adoption event at Johnny Carson Park in Burbank. Diane Doyle of North Hollywood, above, with her dog, Bella, an animal she adopted from a shelter, after the dog survived a nearly debilitating attack by another dog or coyote.