Enfield -- A patch of floor and ceiling awaited retiling, a credit card machine was acting a little stubborn, and some office supplies were still missing in action, but the beaming smiles of Upper Valley Humane Society staff and supporters more than filled those voids.

“The team has been just phenomenal,” UVHS President Jill Harris said of her staff.

Soon after, she laughed as she pulled pieces of drywall out of her hair, a telling detail about what the team has been up to the last five weeks.

UVHS' Animal Care Center reopened yesterday after being sidelined with a highly infectious ringworm outbreak that shuttered the facility last month.

The staff were forced to toss pet supplies, office furniture and anything with a porous surface, including ceiling tiles. They scrambled to quarantine or foster-house healthy pets, and worked with veterinarians to assess the health of infected cats, some of which were euthanized. The contaminated areas of the building were scoured with bleach, and staff took more than 300 environmental cultures before determining it was safe to reopen.

The shelter's financial losses are hovering near $75,000.

But yesterday, it was all good news, all the time. Newly painted walls shone a subtle taupe, flowers festooned the welcome desk, kittens wrestled in one of the toy-strewn pet rooms, and most importantly, folks were there to adopt.

Ernie and Carol DeMers waited near the front desk to finish some paperwork, a small pekinese-poodle mix named Blacky sat pertly on his lap.

“We always saw this place along the highway,” Ernie DeMers said as he petted the 4-year-old dog. It's been several years since their bichon frise died, and the Ryegate, Vt., couple felt they were ready to take on another pet.

“We'll just stop on the way home and see what's there,” he recalled saying.

They fell for Blacky after seeing how obedient she was, and made arrangements to return to the shelter to complete the adoption last month.

In the meantime, the office closed for the ringworm outbreak. The DeMerses received the word that yesterday was the day they had been waiting for, and were at the shelter as it opened at 1 p.m.

“She's just the right size,” Ernie DeMers paused and glanced at the wee dog, “and we just took to her.”

“We are so happy to see her go home,” Interim Shelter Manager Emily Stewart told the couple.

Harris said three cats were surrendered soon after the doors reopened, and four more strays trickled in as the day progressed. After health evaluations, they will be added to the pool of adoptable animals. About 10 cats -- which Harris said were elated to be back in their roomy, bright digs rather than in quarantine -- are at the shelter awaiting adoptions, as well as about a dozen dogs. No dogs tested positive for ringworm.

“It's been very distressing, worrying about the health of the cats,” said volunteer Taryn Stuart of Lebanon. “I'm absolutely thrilled (the shelter is open).”

The staff are contacting folks interested in surrendering pets to arrange drop-offs, as well as foster homes to assess the wellness of pets in outside care, Harris said.

About 10 families stopped in to look at pets, and in addition to the two dogs, one cat was adopted yesterday. As summer days go, it was a little on the slow side, she said. But some folks stopped by just to express support as the day progressed, armed with cash and supply donations, as well a $100 grocery gift card.

Robin Carle, a UVHS behaviorist, explained paperwork to Paul and Janice Baker of Charlestown while they stood in an outdoor play area. Buddy, a spunky year-old shih tzu, ran plodding laps around his soon-to-be-owners.

“When we saw him we knew this was the dog we wanted,” Janice Baker said. They happened to stop by the shelter yesterday, unaware of the outbreak but grateful for their fortuitous timing, considering another family had also been interested in Buddy.

“They say things happen when they're supposed to happen,” she said. “This was the way it was meant to be! Buddy, where are you?”

Buddy's face emerged from behind a play structure, his pink tongue the only indication of a mouth in the cloud of brown and white fur.

Harris credits the generous volunteers who've stocked them with blankets, towels and newspapers (lots of newspapers), her staff, Upper Valley business donors, and Stoney Brook Veterinary Hospital in Lebanon for getting the shelter back on its feet.

But with the drywall dust in her hair and dried paint speckling her hands, Harris was reluctant to talk much about her contributions, which include a ramped up fundraising, starting in the next few weeks.

“We have a long way to go before we make it back,” she said.

But they're moving forward with the benefit of hindsight. All new ceiling tiles are washable PVC, walls have been given two coats of primer and paint a piece to act as a sealant, staff replaced as many items as they could with plastic that can be wiped clean, and the truckload of donated office furniture Carle was slated to retrieve in Massachusetts this weekend is nonporous, sealed wood.

“We've been trying to be thoughtful as we replace things,” Harris said.

Will a lull in the activity in midafternoon, Harris planned to retreat to her office for a bit to catch up on work.

“We're just back to the normal chaos of sheltering,” she smiled.

Kerry Trotter can be reached at ktrotter@vnews.com or 603-727-3305