Work progresses on new animal shelter, but long list of tasks remain
Construction continues on the site of the new animal shelter in Grand Marais, but there is still much work to be done before the project is complete.
The effort to develop the new animal shelter is led by the Arrowhead Animal Rescue, a local nonprofit that helps care for lost or surrendered animals.
After the Arrowhead Animal Rescue secured a lot in the Cedar Grove Business Park and purchased a used classroom trailer from Great Expectations School (GES), the focus of the work has been on site preparation and necessary trailer improvements.
“There’s no shortage of work to be done,” said Dale Peterson, chair of the Arrowhead Animal Rescue board.
Former GES classroom trailer which will now be the new animal shelter | Photo by Kalli Hawkins
At the end of July, Doug Seim, the construction manager for the project, moved materials and equipment to the property in the Cedar Grove Business Park to join the two trailer halves together. The 28-foot by 70-foot trailer was cut in half to transport it from the GES property to the business park lot.
Peterson said that before the two trailer halves can be joined, a contractor will pour a four-inch foundation on which the trailer will sit. Then, she said, “At that point, the plumbing and electric can be connected.”
Two halves of the trailer | Photo by Kalli Hawkins
Once the trailer is joined and on the foundation, the interior and exterior remodel work begins.
“The floors need a total overhaul and will be epoxy-coated,” Peterson said. “Then we will work on dog kennels (4) and cat kennels (4), plus a quarantine room for cats.”
Furthermore, tasks include additional dirt work, fencing, a ramp on the front of the building, purchasing a shipping container, and painting.
“The list is endless,” Peterson said.
Despite the long to-do list, Peterson said the Arrowhead Animal Rescue is “pumped that things are finally starting to move and we hope it keeps moving.”
One of the challenges, Peterson said, is that the site preparations and dirt work are moving slowly because the ground is too soft for large equipment, given the recent heavy rains. Arrowhead Animal Rescue is working with numerous local contractors to “figure out what to do next,” Peterson said.
The Arrowhead Animal Rescue has been leading the initiative to develop a new animal shelter since the former shelter, referred to as the “Found Pound,” was removed from the Grand Marais Recreation Park in 2021. The small cinderblock building was removed to make way for improvements to the boat launch.
Since then, Grand Marais has been without an official animal shelter. Lost or surrendered pets are temporarily housed in the garage at the Cook County Law Enforcement Center until an Arrowhead Animal Rescue volunteer or foster can take them in.
The need to establish a new animal shelter has been an occasional item on the city council agendas, dating back to before the “Found Pound” was removed in 2021. To help support the development of a new animal shelter, the city and county each allocated $25,000 towards the project.
Kalli Hawkins August 16, 2025
