Miranda Pederson/Daily News

Latreeze Ellis walked quietly into the Bowling Green-Warren County Humane Societys Adoption Center as Sonny and Cher two cats named after the famous singing duo peered sleepily from atop their cat furniture. The Bowling Green woman came to the shelter for a certificate to get her dog spayed and decided to take a look at the organizations new facility, which opened Friday. Located beside the original shelter, the Adoption Center at 1924 Louisville Road is a no-kill shelter that will provide a safe environment for homeless animals in Bowling Green and Warren County. The shelter will run solely on donations and grants; the present shelter is run by the city and county governments. Ellis family just moved into a new home and they have a fenced-in backyard. We have two small dogs and had talked about getting a large dog, she said. Ellis wasnt the only one looking at potential pets. Diane and Donnie Asher of Bowling Green had gone with their 15-year-old son, Wesley, to adopt a cat, but they wound up leaving with CiCi, a young pit bull terrier with a sweet disposition. We fell in love with her as soon as we saw her, Donnie Asher said. Were glad they have this no-kill shelter. This is something weve needed in Bowling Green for a long time. Ellis didnt leave with a new, four-legged family member, but she did have a positive view of the new shelter. Its very nice and warm, she said. I go over to the old building and see all those dogs and it just breaks my heart. Humane Society Director Lorri Hare said the reality of having her dream come true was surreal. It still seems too good to be true, she said. I woke up at 1 in the morning and couldnt get back to sleep. Im praying that the community supports us financially. You walk through the building and its so nice. Im relieved the animals have a better place to stay with more room. The new facility which cost about $600,000 to build has various features, including 30 cat cages, 25 puppy cages, 25 indoor dog runs, a grooming area and a visitors area, which Judy Brown-Blum of Bowling Green took full advantage of when she visited the shelter on Friday. She and her family were considering adopting a dog in memory of their 11-month-old Maltese, Xion, who died last week of kidney failure. We know we cannot ever replace him, but we want to honor his memory by adopting a dog that needs a home, she said. My daughter was able to go with one of the dogs into the visitors room and they just played together. Although she decided to wait a while before adopting another pet, Brown-Blum said the Adoption Center is a good place to find one. What a lovely facility! she said. The people who worked there were obviously concerned about the animals and who would be adopting them. They were in love with the animals. It was touching. Hare hopes that the Adoption Centers no-kill policy will bring in more volunteers. Theres nothing that bothers shelter workers more than euthanizing an animal because there isnt more room for it, she said. There were volunteers who werent able to handle the other building because they got emotional about it. Intake animals still have to go to the Humane Society shelter before going to the Adoption Center, Hare said. Well pull from that center those who are in danger of being euthanized the ones who have been there the longest, she said. (The Humane Society shelter) will continue to run like it always have because we want to save the animals there, too. The Adoption Centers hours are 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays except Wednesday, during which the center will be closed 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and noon to 4 p.m. Sundays. For more information, call the center at 783-9404.