Paul Pondella, who is often called the Wolf Whisperer, has been around wolves practically his entire life and is perhaps more comfortable with the furry creatures than with people.  

"I trust the four-leggeds more than I do the two-leggeds," Paul said.

He and his wife Colette run a wolf sanctuary called the Shadowland Foundation.

"We do most of our work with our training in here," she said, as she gave a tour.

They look after 10 wolves on their property in Northern Los Angeles County, near Lake Castaic. 

"We were living in Studio City, and we had 11 wolves in the backyard," she said.

Needless to say, the couple got evicted. However, the couple have since adopted Shadowland as their new home and made it their life misson to introduce people to wolves in a positive way.

"Educate…not eradicate," Paul said.

They hope to change people’s hearts and minds about wolves through monthly programs that are open to the public where visitors get a chance to not just get close to the wolves, but truly interact with them. 

Kenny Ojeda surprised his girlfriend Amanda Hall with a visit to the sancturary for their one-year anniversary. She laid down while the animals crawled all over her - Looking for the food that she was holding in her hands.

"They’re magical. I don’t know, you can just feel their energy," Hall said.

But Paul reminds everyone not to just wander into the forest trying to pet a wild wolf.

"What you’re getting to participate in is a socialization process that has taken four decades to get to here, and a decade and a half so you can do this," he said referring to the close interaction with the wolves.  

Daisy Flores loved feeling them all around her while visiting the sanctuary, and says that wolves are her spirit animal.

"It was awesome!" she exclaimed.

And if you listen closely, you might even catch another special moment.

"Hearing them howl was like 'no way!'" Flores gasped.

For Paul and Colette, it’s not just about protecting these creatures from the growing threat of ranchers, but it's also about helping guests connect emotionally to the animals.

"I want them to walk away and know that this creature and every other creature is important and that we can share the planet," Paulsaid.