Today we’d like to introduce you to Shannon Anttila.
Hi Shannon, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I was raised in northern Minnesota, specifically Brainerd, and for the last 30 years have lived in the Deer River area. I’m a married mother of a teen and preteen boy, and my husband and boys are my number- one supporters. My family has always been huge animal lovers; my mom fostered several dogs from a local animal rescue when I was young, which was a big part of my inspiration to start the animal rescue I co-founded seven years ago.
Great Tails Animal Rescue started completely based out of need, as the previous local humane society in the area closed abruptly 6 months prior. There were no other animal rescues within about an hour either direction of our community to help with the stray or unwanted pets, and it was creating a huge strain and workload on rescues nearest who already had their own community needs. A few of us got together at a local coffee shop, and the initial idea was to create a proposal for the nearest rescues to establish a “satellite” office underneath their non-profits in order to meet our community’s needs. We met with three well-established shelters with our proposal, and though it was respectfully turned down, we were offered mentorship in starting our own 501c3 rescue. We received that status in December of 2018, gave ourselves almost a year of fundraising, building necessary connections, (such as vet care, IT support, etc,) and waited until we secured enough funding to take in our first pets so they could be fully funded for basic medical needs to be ready for adoption. At almost year 7, we have taken in and adopted out approximately 1300 pets into safe and loving homes, and provided a necessary service for our area.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Starting a non-profit organization has been both a great accomplishment and also a challenge. My professional and academic background is a mix of customer service and administrative management; I’ve worked with a lot of personalities in many different business models, which has served me well while maintaining my role as President of our organization, and making needed connections and partnerships. Prior to Great Tails I had volunteered with local non-profits, but had not been a governing member before. Learning to navigate this leadership role has given me opportunities for growth in myself and as a productive member in our community. Being one of the co-founders of the organization poses an extra element to it all. When our organization started, we did not have the convenience of many people to help with the tasks and responsibilities as an expanding business, so I took on a good majority of duties. In the last two years, it’s been a learning curve of “letting go” and delegating to others, which is not always easy, but gives opportunities for empowerment of our volunteers and working with their strengths, which are sometimes much better than mine.
Another challenge of a new non-profit business is simply the creation of the guidance and policies which uphold our mission and services to the community with our rescued pets. Of all our mentors in the animal rescue world, the vast majority of our peers came into their leadership roles with their organization having been long established; our organization is first in at least 10-15 years to be initiated locally. We’ve been given wonderful advice and direction from our mentors in the field, and our community support proves that our services are needed, but there have been some learning curves being the “newbies”.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My “paid” job is as a regional office manager for a government agency. My responsibilities are not unlike my volunteer job within our rescue: supervision and allotment of budgets, invoicing, working within teams, helping with recruitment, training, and adhering to policies. I also support my agency as a substitute wildland dispatcher. Both my professional roles can be demanding at times, and you have to think on the fly to meet the priorities at hand, with or without very little to no notice. In animal rescue we also deal with lives and priorities, and the weight of that responsibility can be heavy. There is a constant balance between saving as many pets as we can, and staying within a budget so that we can be sustainable and serve our community long into the future. Though I am a work in progress, I feel one of my strengths as a leader is trying to observe both sides of an issue at hand by looking at the data and facts, and not just lead with emotion in a decision. I have also been complimented as an excellent communicator, (a few of my elementary report cards are also proof of this.)
Our biggest accomplishment to-date is securing land and fundraising over $1.4 million for our future shelter building; move-in date of February 2026. Our rescue has been entirely foster-based since the start, with an office space to conduct our meetings, trainings, adoptions, and small fundraisers. We have amazing fosters, but are completely reliant on their homes for pet placement at all times.
Four years ago we decided it was time to look for a shelter option so that we lessen the dependency on our fosters. We initially reached out to the City of Cohasset, MN to inquire about land in their industrial part of town that was for sale. After presenting a proposal for our shelter, we were gifted with 6 acres of donated land by the council. Much like when we started, we spent the last three years interviewing sustainable shelters around Minnesota, securing blueprints, hiring contractors and of course, LOTS of fundraising. To be a part of this endeavor from start to finish, and to finally see our dream of a community space to keep our pets safe, is something I most look forward to this year, and hope will be part of my legacy long after I am gone.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
I think I have said it all. LOL!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.greattailsanimalrescue.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/greattailsanimalrescue
