[UPDATED: 2026-03-29T05:28:07.269016+00:00]
Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando opened its new $15 million animal shelter Saturday at 4311 S. John Young Parkway, marking the beginning of a new chapter and the end of a years-long recovery from a devastating September 2021 fire that destroyed its previous facility. The 25,000-square-foot shelter can house up to 275 pets at a time and is designed to increase adoptions to roughly 6,000 animals each year.
The state-of-the-art, air-conditioned facility replaces the nonprofit’s former Conroy Road location and serves Orange, Seminole and Osceola counties. The grand opening celebration ran from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, featuring tours of the facility and a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10 a.m.
“It’s been a long journey to get here, but this facility really represents hope and healing for our organization and the community,” said Lindsay Framstead, interim executive director. “We are ecstatic the time is finally here for us to move into our beautiful, new shelter and open our doors to the public.”
The new shelter features what the organization calls the largest shelter-based veterinary clinic in Florida, with double the previous medical space to treat both dogs and cats. The facility includes disease-specific quarantine areas, dedicated rooms for neonatal kittens and flexible spaces for emergency response during natural disasters.
Construction on the new shelter began in November 2024, three years after the fire that killed dozens of animals and left the organization without a permanent home. Pet Alliance has been operating without a permanent facility since the September 2021 blaze destroyed its location near the Mall at Millenia.
Funding for the project came primarily through Pet Alliance’s “Almost Home” capital campaign, which is nearing its $15 million goal with approximately $315,000 remaining to be raised. The new facility includes outdoor play areas and plans for a vegetable and herb garden designed for animal enrichment and natural treats.
Pet Alliance, founded in 1937 as the Orlando Humane Society, has grown into a regional leader serving more than 4,000 animals annually. The expanded medical space and increased capacity are intended to meet growing demand for pet adoptions across Central Florida.
The shelter will operate daily adoption hours from noon to 6 p.m., offering the public opportunities to meet adoptable pets in the new facility. The building’s design incorporates modern features including full air conditioning throughout and flexible spaces that can adapt to various operational needs. Pet Alliance officials say the enhanced medical capabilities will improve care for animals coming through the shelter system.