Heather Owen
Board President, Director of Events

Heather Owen is an Illinois litigation attorney who represents injured bicyclists by day. By night, weekend and lunch break, she serves as Board President and Director of Events for OTAT. Her love for dogs began when her father brought home Shaggy, an Old English Sheepdog when she was just 2 years old. Since then she has had a penchant for extra large, extra fluffy dogs. Her favorite parts of being involved with One Tail at a Time are the great parties and the court case dog program. Besides rescuing dogs, she loves riding her bike, a nice glass of whiskey and hitting the dog beach with her husband, Wheaten Terrier Marley and Old English Sheepdog mix Rude Dog. Her other Old English Sheepdog, Walter, keeps the couch warm at home.

Anna Friedman
Board Vice-President, Intake Coordinator

Anna Friedman has worked as a Humane Educator in local shelters for the past five years.  Her favorite part of being the Intake Coordinator for OTAT is watching the transformation in the dogs that come from horrific conditions and end up in loving adoptive homes. When she’s not saving dogs, Anna prefers to be in Door County with her husband and three dogs.

Andrea Juracek
Adoptions Director

Andrea Juracek worked in fair and affordable housing advocacy for nearly 10 years before deciding to make a change.  She now works for vegan food producer Upton’s Naturals advocating for a healthy diet and lifestyle.  As co-founder of One Tail at a Time, Andrea has coordinated the adoption, volunteer, and outreach programs.  She is now Adoption Director, working to get One Tail’s harder-to-place dogs into their forever homes.  In her free time, she acts as a magnet for stray dogs.  She also tries to spend as much time as possible with her own pups Penny and Squints, and family dogs Sammi, Bailey, and Harley.  Andrea has a husband who thankfully still loves her despite all the rambunctious fosters she has brought home.  When not working on training or cleaning up messes, they enjoy watching basketball, making fancy cocktails, and spending time with friends.

Elizabeth Lopez
Volunteer Coordinator

Elizabeth Lopez is a High School Spanish teacher by day, and foster mom extraordinaire by night. She started working with OTAT as a foster home and has since had many puppies and Dutch’s Fund dogs in her home.  She also runs the Volunteer program, both training volunteers to attend adoption events, and training volunteers for our Court Case Dog partnership at Chicago Animal Care and Control.  Beth is thankful for a very tolerant husband, two dogs (Gia and Mystic) and two cats.

Renee Koplan
Medical Coordinator

Renee Koplan started volunteering with One Tail at a Time shortly after moving to Chicago in the Spring of 2010, as she sought out ways to get her animal fix.  Currently employed in the rail travel industry, Renee has a background in wildlife rehabilitation and is a former veterinary technician used to working in remote areas such as the islands of Greece, British Columbia and Antarctica. In addition to serving as a board member and Medical Coordinator for OTAT, Renee staffs the first aid station at the Northerly Island facility of Flint Creek Wildlife every weekend. Not ready to commit to the full responsibility of a settled life and complete dog ownership, Renee enjoys fostering for OTAT and is always looking forward to the next chance to help save a life. Although her passion for the humane care of animals of all shapes and sizes is top priority, Renee also loves traveling, tennis and learning to play her vintage saxophone.