A Letter From Steve

Spring ushered in a most exciting time for our organization – our new shelter is on the horizon! At the official groundbreaking ceremony on April 25, we entered a new era for all the cats and dogs we serve at Pet Alliance. The new facility is located on John Young Parkway with our closest neighbor being the Orange County Jail. (I figured that is a landmark many of our readers know – hopefully not from personal experience.)

I'd like to highlight some of the special features that our new shelter facility will include. First, the facility will house one of the largest shelter medical units in the State of Florida with quarantine/isolation space to assist more medically needy dogs and cats. This will enable us to assist animals from shelters that may otherwise euthanize them.

Another significant addition is that during the hot Florida summers, the dog kennels will be fully air conditioned. (Our cats have always had AC :-). One special feature for cats is individual cat condos with separate air flow systems. This will greatly reduce airborne illnesses such as upper respiratory conditions.

Also, there is ample space to walk along Lake Catherine which borders the back of the property. In addition to walking trails, we have designed an enrichment garden and a fun play yard into the plan. Our cats will enjoy one of two indoor/outdoor “catios” featuring places to climb, explore and tuck away for a quick cat nap.

While we are excited about our new shelter, we have not forgotten our Sanford location. During the late summer and early fall, you may experience some dust as we refresh our Sanford dog and cat shelters, as well as the public veterinary clinic. With our updated branding, we know you will enjoy the makeover in Sanford.

As we move into the fall months, we will be celebrating five years of our valuable TNVR (Trap, Neuter, Vaccinate and Return) services. This program has been spearheaded since its inception by two dedicated staff – Dr. Dawn Keenan and Cathy Houde – and a host of support from additional Pet Alliance staff and volunteers. Since November 2016, we have provided spay and neuter services to more than 14,000 cats. What an amazing accomplishment!

And of course, none of these successes could be achieved without the support of our generous community. You are how we continue to fulfill our goal to provide compassionate and knowledgeable services for pets and to be leaders in innovative animal care and sheltering. Thank you for your continued support. Have a safe and happy summer!

Stephen Bardy Executive Director

On a beautiful sunny morning, Pet Alliance supporters, board and staff gathered to celebrate the groundbreaking for the new Orlando facility. The event featured remarks by Pet Alliance staff and board, as well as local government representatives, and an adorable “first dig” by some Pet Alliance puppies.

The ceremony marks the beginning of work on the land that will eventually be home to our new state-of-the-art shelter facility. Throughout the summer, the land will be cleared and prepped as we expect the actual construction of the facility to begin early 2024. It is an exciting time!