Ilene Lieber
Central Florida’s Go-To Pet Experts Celebrate Opening of Downtown Cat Shelter, Which Will Be Home to Cat Adoptions, Intake of Owner Surrender Cats and More
As the 85th anniversary of their beloved organization approaches, Central Florida’s go-to pet experts, Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando, are proud to announce the official grand opening of the Downtown Cat Shelter on Tuesday, September 27, 2022. The celebration will kick off at 9am with tours and refreshments, followed by opening remarks by Executive Director Steve Bardy and Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and a ribbon cutting at 9:30am. The 3,000 square foot Downtown Cat Shelter will house around 30 cats at a time available for adoption and provide intake services of owner surrendered cats. The location will also serve as the Orlando base for Pet Alliance’s volunteer foster program and focus some of their Community Cat TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) Initiative in the surrounding neighborhoods.
“It’s hard to believe it’s been one year since the devastating fire in our Conroy home where we lost 17 members of our feline family,” says Pet Alliance Executive Director Steve Bardy. “After the fire, we determined that wanted a space where we could continue some of our sheltering operations in Orlando until the permanent shelter is built. The downtown location will help relieve some of the pressure off of the Sanford facility and also give people in Orlando a more convenient location for cat adoption and surrender.”
Once Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando’s permanent shelter opens (4311 & 4319 South John Young Parkway, Orlando, FL 32819), which is projected to break ground in Spring 2023 and open late Summer 2024, the goal is to turn the downtown facility into an affordable veterinary clinic that will be open to and serve the public and continue to put added emphasis on the health and well-being of pets and providing affordable solutions for pet owners.
Bardy continues, “We are elated for the shelter to finally open. When we leased the space, it was completely empty with the exception of a few walls carving out rooms. The final product is a facility that will include a cat adoption area, eventual veterinary space for our Orlando shelter medical team and a couple of offices. To see this project finally come to completion and the facility open to the public is an important stepping-stone as we continue to rebuild after the fire.”
“Pets are part of our family in the Orlando community,” says Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer. “To have this new facility for future cat owners in our Downtown speaks to the compassion our community has knowing every animal deserves a loving home and convenient, affordable care.”
In honor of the grand opening, Zesty Paws, maker of premium quality dog and cat supplements, is sponsoring adoption fees and providing feline care kits for the first 30 cats adopted at the shelter starting on September 27.
Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando – Downtown Cat Shelter is located at 777 W. Central Boulevard, Orlando, FL 32801. Public hours of operation are Monday-Saturday 12pm-6pm. Intakes are by appointment only and can be scheduled by calling 407-351-7722. For more information on Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando, visit www.petallianceorlando.org.
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