ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Orange County Animal Services will temporarily limit pet intake beginning Monday, Oct. 5, as construction work restricts access to the shelter’s receiving area.
The change is expected to last about one week while contractors excavate part of the roadway leading to the pet intake area to install utility, fire and stormwater infrastructure for the county’s new animal shelter.
What pet owners should know
During the construction period, Orange County Animal Services will accept only stray animals with urgent medical needs or concerning behavior.
Adoptions and other essential services will continue during normal business hours.
Officials are asking residents who find healthy, friendly stray animals to try to locate their owners or temporarily care for the pets until normal intake resumes.
We know many people first think to take a lost pet to the shelter, but often the pet hasn’t gone far from home,” Animal Services Manager Diane Summers said. “During construction, we ask the community to help by reuniting pets with their families or caring for them until normal intake resumes.
How to help reunite pets
Orange County officials said most lost pets are found within a mile of their homes. Residents can post photos and the location where an animal was found through the Orange County Animal Services Lost & Found Pet Forum.
Petco Love Lost also offers a free national lost-pet database that uses searchable pet photos.
While temporarily adjusting how we handle stray animals, our shelter remains open for adoptions and essential services. We invite anyone interested in a new pet to visit us.
Each adoption opens space for another animal in need.
New shelter timeline
The temporary disruption is tied to the construction of Orange County’s new animal shelter, which is expected to open in the fall of 2027.
The more than 123,000-square-foot facility is planned to include 265 dog kennels and housing for nearly 200 cats.
“We appreciate our community’s patience as we work through construction,” Summers said. “These inconveniences will lead to a modern, expanded shelter that will serve Orange County’s pets and residents for decades.”
Residents can follow Orange County Animal Services’ website and social media pages for construction and intake updates.
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