Animal Humane Society
Mary Tan is the Public Relations Manager for Animal Humane Society, one of the largest private animal shelters in the United States and the largest in the Upper Midwest. While animal adoption is a focus, she also works to establish the humane society as a resource in low-cost veterinary services, training and behavior in helping make sure people can keep their pets once they are adopted.
Mary also is the chief storyteller of Whisker Media, a boutique strategic communications agency where she focuses on marketing and public relations for pet-related businesses and animal welfare nonprofits. The mission of her agency is to donate profits back to homeless animal organizations, especially cat rescue groups.
Before her time promoting adoptable pets and the products to support them, Mary worked in government communications at the City of Brooklyn Park, where she led public relations and crisis communications efforts for the community.
Prior to that she was an award-winning reporter and anchor in cities including Atlanta, Minneapolis, Las Vegas, and numerous other television markets. She also reported on major stories for most of the major networks including Fox News, CNN, CBS News, and NBC News.
The Wisconsin native is also a freelance writer for several pet publications including Catster Magazine, and a member of the Cat Writer’s Association and the Asian American Journalists Association of which she is a past President. Being an animal welfare advocate, Mary believes in adopting special needs animals. She has a 6-year-old kitty named Farley Waddlesworth, a former bottle baby kitten who has behavior issues and a 12-year-old dog named Josie, who has shy and fear issues due to abuse in her past.