ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – Orange County Animal Services will temporarily restrict stray animal intake as construction gets underway near the shelter’s pet-receiving area.
Beginning Monday, the shelter will take in only stray animals that have urgent medical needs or pose significant behavioral concerns. The temporary change is expected to remain in place for about one week.
Construction crews will install utility, fire protection and stormwater systems near the existing Orange County Animal Services facility. The infrastructure work is part of a broader project to expand the shelter.
“We’re going to tear up this area right here because there’s got to be piping and wiring that’s going to go to the ground,” said Bryant Almeida of Orange County Animal Services.
Officials are asking residents who encounter healthy, friendly stray animals to provide temporary care while the construction is in progress. People should also try to reunite animals with their owners by checking for identification, asking neighbors and sharing information in local community groups.
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“Sometimes people first go to the shelter,” Almeida said. “It’s not that hard to knock on doors and say, ‘Hey, does this dog belong to you?’”
Adoptions and other critical services at the shelter will continue operating as usual.
The expanded Orange County Animal Services facility will span more than 123,000 square feet, giving the shelter additional capacity to help animals and the families who rely on its services.
Work in the pet-receiving area is scheduled to finish by Friday, Oct. 9. Normal stray intake is expected to resume Saturday, Oct. 10.
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