The Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando will soon bring back a home for animals in need, starting construction of a new Orlando shelter following a devastating fire in 2021 that stripped the organization of its original location.
The 25,000-square-foot facility, home of the Kylie J. Capri Campus and Edward H. Hensley Adoption Center, will be located in south Orlando at 4311 S. John Young Parkway. The construction will take approximately 14 months, with an estimated completion by February 2026, Pet Alliance staff said in a release.
The new shelter will comprise modern, air-conditioned shelter spaces for displaced animals, along with indoor and outdoor recreational space. The facility will also include an expanded adoption services center, upgraded veterinary facility, quarantine spaces for ill animals, dedicated rooms for neonatal kittens and supplementary space to support other shelters during natural disasters.
There will additionally be a memorial and serenity area, along with a vegetable and herb garden for enrichment and to provide resources for the shelter to develop natural pet treats.
The original location of the Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando near the Mall at Millenia caught fire in September 2021, and the space was rendered a total loss. While all of the dogs in the care of the shelter were rescued, more than 20 cats were killed in the incident.
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The search for a new shelter space has been extensive, spanning over three years. The Orlando branch has sought out temporary spaces in the meantime and partnered with its Sanford location to care for homeless animals. The construction of the new shelter on John Young Parkway was initially intended to be completed by September 2023.
“It’s been a long time coming to rebuild after our devastating fire in 2021,” Steve Bardy, executive director of Pet Alliance, says. “While the heart of our organization is to help deserving pets find their new homes, and the large new space allows us to take in more cats and dogs, we are doing much more here.”
The Almost Home Capital Campaign, funding Pet Alliance’s efforts, is underway to raise $17.8 million to build the new shelter and continue the organization’s services and care. Pet Alliance is offering opportunities to get involved and show support to help pets at the shelter.
