A first look at long-awaited Itasca County animal shelter

COHASSET, Minn. (Northern News Now) - A Grand Rapids nonprofit that’s found forever homes for hundreds of animals is finally getting a permanent home of its own.

Great Tails Animal Rescue board member Janet Pellersels says the new shelter being built in Cohasset is a much needed upgrade.

“Everyone says the same thing,” said Pellersels. “We need this place. We need it. We need a place where we can take in more animals.”

The rescue stepped up in 2018 when the area’s last Humane Society shelter abruptly closed.

Currently renting space in a mall in Grand Rapids, they aren’t able to keep animals overnight, making them completely dependent on fosters.

President Shannon Anttila says they often have more animals than foster homes.

“We’ve had some really great foster homes, but like anything, that kind of comes and goes,” said Anttila. “Life happens, and our foster homes come and go.”

Over the past three years, they’ve raised funds through donations and grants to pay for the $1.2 million building, and the City of Cohasset gifted the rescue the land.

“It proves that the community needs this building and needs rescue services,” said Anttila.

Once completed, it will be the only shelter in Itasca County.

Great Tails takes in about 225 animals a year, and volunteers say they believe the new shelter will allow them to bump that up to 300.

“That’s what keeps me going: the animals that come in and then to see them get their forever homes and see people getting their forever pets,” said Pellersels.

She adds she’s incredibly grateful for all the donations and support so far but that the need won’t end with the completion of this building.

They’ll continue to use foster homes moving forward.

For information on volunteering with Great Tails Animal Rescue, click here.

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