The public got a first look at the Toledo Area Humane Society’s brand-new shelter at its Saturday grand opening featuring food, education, and a parade of newly adopted animals leaving for their forever homes.

The afternoon of events and activities included tours of the new facility and outdoor activities for people and their furry friends. On display was the 17,500 square feet, $3.5 million shelter at 827 Illinois Ave. in Maumee.

PHOTO GALLERY: Toledo Area Humane Society

Additional space includes larger holding areas for animals not yet available for adoption, an expanded veterinary clinic and surgery suite, and offices for staff. Hallways were packed Saturday afternoon, with a steady stream of visitors peering into cages and kennels.

Gary Willoughby, the shelter’s executive director, said the event  was a chance for the public to view upgrades meant to build an inviting atmosphere, including bright colors and more natural light.

“You never know what to expect when you say, ‘Here’s what we've been working on, and we want to show it to you,’ ” he said.

He estimated 1,000 people attended. He said they are still tallying the number of cats and dogs adopted — more than they expected, he said.

“It makes you feel good about the future of the animals here,” he said, “and that many people care about a shelter opening to come check it out. We know a lot of animals are going to find good homes today.”

A volunteer at the door cooed to another as a frantically wagging tail left for its new adoptive home. By midafternoon, a sizable stack of cat and dog food donations had piled up by the front door.

Outside, attendees enjoyed food and an ice cream truck, splash pools for the dogs, animal massages, and educational seminars on animal cruelty and animal care.

Columbus resident Kristin Green, 30, came back to her hometown for the grand opening, she said, bringing with her a very mellow Fynn, her 2-year-old Shiba Inu, who had just gotten a massage.

“We came back to support the shelter, to see his Toledo friends, and of course to see Fynn’s cat cousin,” she joked.

That would be Ted, who was adopted from the local humane society by sister Karin Green, 32, of West Toledo. The sisters have participated in the shelter’s 5-kilometer race and other events.

They agreed their favorite part of the new facility was the public viewing room for George, the shelter’s adopted cat and mascot. George, who suffered burns and was treated and later adopted by the shelter in 2012, lounged on a cat tower in a windowed room where people could come in and pet him.

Chris Mathews, 30, and Megan Boukissen, 25, came in to adopt a 2-month-old kitten, initially named Pan, though that was subject to change, they said. The kitten made their choice easy, they said, by running right toward them.

It was the pair’s first glimpse at the new facility, which they agreed was impressive.

“It looks really good, a lot bigger,” Mr. Mathews said, adding that they’d been wanting to adopt and decided Saturday was the right day. “It was a good weekend to do this.”

Fran Friedman and Mark Schmenk, both former chief cruelty investigators for the humane society, got a behind-the-scenes tour from Mr. Willoughby, who showed them the new medical suite and surgical upgrades.

Ms. Friedman said she was happy to see more stalls, up from five to 11, in the cruelty division, meaning the shelter can take in more dogs at a time.

“It’s absolutely wonderful,” she said. “I’m so thrilled for the people who get to work here and the animals. I’m impressed.”

Contact Lauren Lindstrom at llindstrom@theblade.com, 419-724-6154, or on Twitter @lelindstrom.

First Published August 16, 2015, 4:00 a.m.