HAYDEN - The Kootenai Humane Society just spent four months remodeling and making other improvements to its pet-adoption facility, and the public got a peek Saturday.

Following a "leash cutting" ceremony, people came in droves to check out the updates during tours of the facility, located at 11650 N. Ramsey Road. In the process, adoptions of dogs and cats surged.

Much of the facility got new paint and tile flooring. The facility's cat adoption room was expanded and got new cages. The vet room also got new cages. The laundry room was updated with new walls, paint and flooring.

The updates were done using donated labor and materials.

"People have just been beyond thrilled" with the result of the work, executive director Rondi Renaldo said. "It's so much happier, brighter, (and) more beautiful."

She said the facility has a capacity of about 75 dogs and close to 100 cats.

"We're here to help the community," Renaldo said. "While we're giving back to the community, we hope people will remember us for adoptions and donations."

The humane society, established in 1975, is a "no kill" facility, so animals don't run out of time waiting to be adopted. The operation depends on grants, fundraisers, and donations, and is not funded by Kootenai County.

People getting a pet from the humane society will save money, she said, and they'll get an animal that's had its behavior evaluated.

Humane society veterinarian Mary McKinney said, "When they do come out and adopt an animal, that animal has received roughly $280 in medical care."

All the animals are spayed or neutered, fully vaccinated and micro-chipped before leaving the humane society.

Miki Frank, a behavior specialist, assesses the behavior of every animal that comes into the human society to identify any issues the animals might have. That helps her better match people with the pets, so the new owner will know what issues they'll have to manage.

"I work with the owners - before they adopt," Frank said. "And then I'm available afterwards."