ORLANDO, Fla. – Nearly five years after a fire killed 17 cats and destroyed its Orlando shelter, Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando is finally preparing to open its new home later this month.
Pet Alliance announced Wednesday that it will cut the ribbon on the new shelter on John Young Parkway on Saturday, March 28. The grand opening celebration will include a party starting at noon with live entertainment, food trucks, activities and adoptable dogs and cats.
An electrical issue caused the fire that destroyed the original shelter off Conroy Road in September of 2021.
[WATCH: Pet Alliance begins construction on new animal shelter in Orange County (from 2024)]
While Pet Alliance raised money and waited on construction, operations were split between the group’s Sanford shelter and a temporary cat shelter in Downtown Orlando.
The fire hampered the group’s ability to rescue animals from the area’s kill shelters.
Officials told News 6 in 2024 that before the fire, they took in around 7,000 animals a year. Ever since the fire, they’ve only taken in 4,000 to 5,000 a year.
The 25,000-square-foot facility will have dedicated adoption spaces, including air-conditioned facilities for the dogs and cats, an outdoor play space, a state-of-the-art veterinary clinic strictly for shelter pets, and space to help other shelters during natural disasters.
[WATCH: Pet Alliance focuses on new roof years after fire destroyed Orlando shelter]
Pet Alliance is still raising money for the shelter. It still needs $315,000 out of the $15 million raised to pay for the new facility.
If you would like to help, visit the Pet Alliance Almost Home campaign.
Meanwhile, the work of rescuing cats and dogs in Central Florida continues.
If you want to adopt a pet, foster a pet, volunteer, or donate, go to the Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando website.