Orange County Animal Services will temporarily limit its intake of stray animals as construction begins near the shelter’s pet-receiving area.

Starting Monday, the shelter will accept only stray animals with urgent medical needs or concerning behavior. The temporary restriction is expected to last about a week.

Contractors will install utility, fire and stormwater infrastructure near the current shelter. The work is part of a larger construction project that will expand the facility.

“We’re going to tear up this area right here because there’s got to be piping and wiring that’s going to go to the ground,” said Bryant Almeida of Orange County Animal Services.

Animal Services is asking residents who find healthy, friendly strays to temporarily care for them while the work is underway. Residents are also encouraged to look for an animal’s owner by checking for identification, knocking on nearby doors and posting in neighborhood groups.

“Sometimes people first go to the shelter,” Almeida said. “It’s not that hard to knock on doors and say, ‘Hey, does this dog belong to you?’”

Adoptions and other essential services will continue as normal.

The expanded Orange County Animal Services facility will include more than 123,000 square feet of space, creating room to serve more animals and families.

Construction in the pet-receiving area is expected to be completed by Friday, Oct. 9. The shelter plans to resume normal stray intake Saturday, Oct. 10.