ABOUT OTAT PDX
Our Story:
One Tail at a Time | PDX (OTAT PDX) officially launched in May 2015, founded by Juli Zagrans as the sister org of the Chicago based dog rescue, One Tail at a Time (OTAT) established in 2008. OTAT PDX is an all-breed, no-kill, foster-based animal rescue that has saved over 1750 dogs, 11 kittens and 1 pig to date (Aug 2023). We operate with a vast network of volunteers, veterinary and rescue partners. In addition to our rescue work, our programs provide community education and advocacy for the humane treatment of companion animals.
We save at-risk dogs from shelters that need it most, placing them into loving volunteer foster homes where they receive medical care and behavior support before being matched with a forever home. We stay committed to our dogs for their lifetimes, taking them back at any time for any reason.
Welcome to the Good Life:
By 2021 we needed to centralize operations and get into a home of our own. We launched a successful capital campaign to raise funds for our first brick and mortar – an adoption center and community space opening December 2023. This will allow us to welcome new dogs with an immediate wellness exam, house the supplies we give to all foster homes, and provide a location to host training classes, adoption intros, and events. Our adoption center will allow us to provide our community with more resources and the opportunity to welcome even more dogs into the OTAT PDX Good Life.
One Tail at a Time | PDX (OTAT PDX) is a 501(c)(3) all-breed, no-kill, foster-based companion animal rescue based in Portland, Oregon.
RESCUE STATS
STAFF
Juli Zagrans
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Juli is an Illinois attorney who moved to Portland in 2013 to earn her Animal Law LL.M. from the Center for Animal Law Studies at Lewis & Clark Law School. Having volunteered with OTAT Chicago since 2010, Juli wanted to bring its mission, passion, and policies to the PNW so that even more dogs in need could be saved. To date, Juli has fostered around 100 dogs and, briefly, Kevin the pig. Aside from wanting to improve the lives of animals, humans, and the environment in which they live, Juli loves getting lost on her motorcycle somewhere in nature or doing just about anything with her own OTAT PDX alumni, Magpie.
Sadie Hoxmeier
OPERATIONS DIRECTOR
Sadie fell in love with animals as a parade-loving, fiddle-playing kid in Ashland, Oregon. Volunteering as a foster home with OTAT since 2018, to no one’s surprise Sadie foster failed with her third dog (who has only one eye), Sully. Sadie worked in real estate for several years, both in mortgage and escrow, but always hoped to focus her career in a cause closer to her heart. Joining the OTAT PDX team in January 2023, Sadie is thrilled to be saving dogs in need. In her spare time she loves baking (most recently obsessed with perfecting bagels), cooking for friends and hanging with Sully.
Emi Tice
ADOPTIONS & PROGRAMS COORDINATOR
Emi began volunteering for OTAT PDX in 2018, serving as the Adoption Counselor Coordinator and member of the Associate Board. As Program Associate, Emi provides administrative support to the adoption and foster programs. Having made nine moves through six states, Emi feels most at home in Oregon, where she has lived since 2007. When not at work, Emi is at home with her partner, their cat, and new OTAT PDX rescue, Devo, who helps with her crosswords, cooking, Jeopardy, and obsessively trying to beat her own score at Tetris.
Jess Morgan
FOSTER, VOLUNTEER & PROGRAMS COORDINATOR
Jess moved from Indiana to Oregon in 2014 and joined the OTAT team in 2021. When not working, Jess can usually be found hanging out with his partner and their dogs, volunteering at a farm animal sanctuary, or chowing down at one of Portland’s amazing vegan restaurants.
April Saban
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MANAGER
April started volunteering with OTAT PDX in 2015 after she adopted her OTAT pup, Oats. She worked in veterinary medicine for 8 years before shifting to the legal field. Desperately missing working full time with animals, she was thrilled when offered a full-time position as our Community Engagement Manager. April works closely with our veterinary partners, adopters, fosters, volunteers all other members of the OTAT PDX community. Outside of helping rescue dogs in need, April spends her days with her partner, OTAT PDX rescue Oats who is happy to hang outside with her while reading a good book or listening to Taylor Swift on repeat.
Clara Ridabock
EVENTS & COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER
Clara started working with OTAT PDX in 2016 as a volunteer photographing events. After joining the Associate Board, becoming an Adoption Counselor, and fostering many dogs, she joined the OTAT PDX Staff in 2023. Prior to working for OTAT, Clara spent 6 years working as a Bartender and Marketing Coordinator for Lightning Bar Collective. Outside of work, you can find her gardening, hiking and foraging in the PNW with her two OTAT dogs, Cedar and Junebug. She is an advocate for force free training, and is an alumni of Whole Dog Academy.
EXECUTIVE BOARD
Nicole Brodeur
EXECUTIVE BOARD PRESIDENT
Nicole is a producer and angel investor based in Portland, Oregon. She joined OTAT PDX in 2016 as a foster, created the Foster Coordinator position in 2017, and has served as Associate Board President since 2018. In June of 2019 she and her husband adopted Sheila, a nine year old American bully. Nicole serves on four nonprofit boards in addition to OTAT PDX. When not volunteering you can find her gardening, developing new vegan food recipes, and hanging out with her husband, dogs, Cookie and Sheila, and cat, Beatrix.
Alexander Case
BOARD MEMBER
Alex is a Midwest transplant whose love of nature, mild weather, vegan comfort food, music, and dog culture brought him to Oregon. He began volunteering with OTAT PDX early on, fell in love with the mission, and has stuck around ever since. When not devoting his talents to OTAT PDX, Alex is a musician who works for local record label, Tender Loving Empire. Alex loves to camp with his pups, ride bikes and motorcycles, and volunteer with other local nonprofits.
Amy Dunn
BOARD MEMBER
Amy’s work with OTAT PDX began with five of the most powerful words in the English language: “Can I pet your dog?” A lifelong dog lover and repeat rescuer, she’s been fostering, volunteering, and advocating for OTAT PDX ever since that chance encounter. Amy believes there is no greater joy in life than a dog on a freedom ride (probably in it for the selfies) and no better place for a pup to find a forever home than Oregon (typical native Portlander). Amy spends her workdays at a local tech company, her evenings and weekends rescuing dogs, and every spare moment with her foster-failure hellhound, Warby.
Maureen Minister
BOARD MEMBER
Maureen, who started volunteering with OTAT PDX in 2017, has done a little bit of everything, from fostering to adoption counseling to events and fundraising. She also participated in the relief trip to Puerto Rico. She spends her days working as the Conservation Manager for the Port of Portland. In Maureen’s free time she enjoys traveling and hiking and camping with her two rescue pups.
Missi Clements
BOARD MEMBER
Missi grew up with dogs always at her side. She began volunteering for local dog rescues and hosting adoption events in high school, and her passion for dog rescue was reignited in 2015 when she adopted her soul-mutt, Olive. In 2016 she began volunteering with OTAT PDX and things escalated quickly; since then, she’s worn many hats within the organization. By day Missi works as the Director of Operations for a small yet mighty local real estate group, The Twin Team, whose staunch support OTAT PDX is lucky to have.