Dickinson County Animal Clinic Staff

Reid Den Herder, DVM

Reid Den Herder – Chief of Staff,
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Owner

I grew up nearby in Sioux Center, Iowa, but I consider the Iowa great lakes my home!  I went to undergrad at Central College where I met the love of my life, Rhiannon, and developed a passion for travel.  A bachelor’s degree in political science and economics led me to work for a non-profit professional trade association and lobby group in Des Moines for several years.

During that time I fell deeply in love with a beagle puppy named Belle who had ALL OF THE PROBLEMS! She was a genetic disaster that caused me to become very acquainted with my veterinarian. That ignited a deep curiosity and passion for veterinary medicine.  As I become jaded working with Iowa politics and the lobbying world, it was clear a career change was needed. After significant soul-searching and career exploration, I decided to pursue veterinary medicine. In 2009 I began working for Eastown Animal Clinic as a veterinary assistant and took classes at DMACC in Des Moines and ISU to prepare for veterinary school.  In 2015 I graduated from Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine and moved to Spirit Lake where I have been practicing small animal medicine since! Professionally, I have a passion for preventative medicine and surgery. Personally, my interests surround my family, my faith and the lake! My amazing wife Rhiannon is a pharmacist for Walmart in Spirit Lake.  We have 3 girls in Spirit Lake Elementary School that we chase around to dance practice, soccer, and swim team. We are all active with our church family at Good News Community Church in Okoboji.

We have a crazy Goldendoodle named “Doodles” and a 3-legged Border Collie name “Bootsie” that keep us entertained! I feel very blessed to work with so many awesome clients in the Iowa Great Lakes area! My family and I love everything our community has to offer and look forward to a long career getting to know all of you and your fur babies better!

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Maria Sjodin – Doctor of Veterinary Medicine

My parents always said I wanted to be a veterinarian before I knew what a veterinarian really was. Growing up Northeast Suburbs of Minneapolis, Minnesota, my love of animals stemmed from having German Shorthair Pointers that were both our pets and hunting companions. My parents also ignited my passion for animals by bringing me to zoos across the nation during our family vacations. It was during these trips that my love for all animals grew deeper.I attended Iowa State University majoring in Animal Science for my undergraduate degree in 2007. I learned so much about animal agriculture that my interests shifted from exotic animal medicine to food animal medicine prior to being accepted to Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2011.

In 2015 I graduated from veterinary school, and decided to take a few months off to travel. Once rejuvenated by some time off, I accepted a mixed animal  veterinarian position in a rural Northwest, Minnesota. After about a year and a half I transitioned to being a small animal practitioner, where my passion for surgery and endocrinology started to shine.

When I am not working I love to upland bird hunt, go canoeing and camping, and swim. I have also been a foster home since 2012 for Great Plains Pointer Rescue. I have one rescue cat named Vanessa who is my "foster trainer". In 2021, I welcomed a Bracco Italiano puppy into my life, named Homer.

In Spring of 2021, I was looking for a slight career change, when a classmate proposed an offer to come work with him at his practice. I couldn't pass it up! I am excited to be living in the Iowa Great Lakes Area. I am looking forward to  getting to know the area, people and becoming active in the community.

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Amanda Shirbroun – Practice Manager/Registered Veterinary Technician

Originally from North Dakota, I have claimed Iowa as home since 2003.  I’ve worked at DCAC since 2016 and prior to that worked in the Des Moines area in Emergency Vet care as well as a small animal clinic.  As a Registered Veterinary Technician I love getting to help our patients to be happy, healthy and enjoy nothing more than seeing their tails wagging or hearing that happy purr.   My Husband David and I live on an acreage that we share with our 3 indoor cats, 1 resident outdoor cat, our French Bulldog Rupert and various tarantulas.   When we are not taking care of animals (David is a Veterinarian too) we enjoy hiking in Colorado, going to concerts and going on adventures anywhere we can get away to.

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Jodi Lindsey – Lead Client Care Specialist

I grew up on a farm in rural southern Minnesota. I have always loved animals. I graduated from Butterfield-Odin High School and then attended the Medical Institute of Minnesota in Minneapolis where I received my Veterinary Technician degree. I moved to Spirit Lake to do my internship and was hired at that time. I have been employed at the clinic for over 40 years. I still reside in Spirit Lake and have a dog named Lily.
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Kyley Anderson – Veterinary Technician

I have always been a big fan of animals and have always had a companion animal myself while growing up.  With a little push from my family, I went to Iowa Lakes Community College and pursued my Veterinary Technician Degree.  I came to Dickinson County Animal Clinic to do my internship and was hired after graduation.  I have 3 dogs: Ruger, Jax and Willow, and a cat named Millie.
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Caitlynn Nestvold – Veterinary Technician

I grew up in the suburbs of Minneapolis. When I was little we would always go to my grandpa’s farm and play with his horses and the neighbors cows. I had always felt connected to them and had decided at a young age that I was going to be a Veterinary Technician. We moved to Iowa in 2012 and I went to Iowa Lakes Community College in 2020 to get my degree. After graduating in 2022, I was hired at DCAC. I have three rats; Lucy, Lucifer, and Dumbo.
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Mak Heim – Veterinary Technician

I’m originally from the lakes area where I have lived for most of my life.  I have also lived in Missouri, Arkansas, and Kansas for short periods while I was growing up.  When I was in kindergarten they asked what you wanted to be when you grow up and I said a vet.  Later on it changed and I decided with being a vet tech.  While growing up I realized I had a strong connection with animals especially cats.  I ended up coaxing out a kitten who was abandoned and ended up accepting it into my family and life. I went to Spirit Lake High School and ended up graduating a year early so I could start college at Iowa Lakes Community College in the fall of 2020.  During the summer of 2021 I did my internship here which is why I might look familiar.  After graduating in 2022 I was hired here.  I love rollerskating on Friday nights in Estherville and helping them out.  I have a husky/heeler mix named Alice who enjoys being outside relaxing in the hammock with me and watching movies together.

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Penny (Olthoff) Grimmius – Client Care Specialist

I was born in Amery, Wisconsin and grew up in Worthington, Minnesota.  After graduating in 1882, I moved to Sioux Falls, South Dakota where I worked in the medical field for 35 years.  I married my husband Jeff Grimmius in 2017 and moved to Lake Park, Iowa to be closer to Jeff's children and grandchildren.  Lake Park is where my love of animals surfaced.  I currently have 6 cats that are part of our family.  I also volunteer at the Emmet County Animal Shelter.  I have been lucky enough to have and care for over 30 kittens and cats in my 5 years of volunteering.  My specialty is taking the older feral cats and adjusting them to a home setting.  Working with animals is a way of life for me, therefore my current position a the clinic has enhanced my life and love of animals.