DICKINSON COUNTY ANIMAL CLINIC STAFF
Reid Den Herder
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!
Maria Sjodin
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, internal medicine and emergency medicine started to shine. 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 and serve the many pets and owners of this community. 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 2022, I welcomed a German Shorthair Pointer puppy into my life, named Mike.
Amanda Shirbroun
Originally from North Dakota, I have claimed Iowa as home since 2003. I’ve worked at DCAC since 2016 and also enjoy helping as an Adjunct instructor at Iowa Lake Community College with the Surgery Labs. 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 (Kylo, Holden and Scully), 1 resident outdoor cat (Clairmont), our French Bulldogs Myrna Rose and Dutton, 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.
Jodi Lindsey
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. In my free time I enjoy being outdoors, exercising and time with family. I especially enjoy spoiling my Grandson Jack!
Kyley Anderson
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.
Caitlynn Nestvold
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 one rat, Lucifer, and many family cats and dogs.
Grace Kilian
I am originally from Heron Lake, Minnesota. I grew up around cattle for most of my life, leading me to show at 4-H county fairs for about ten years. I knew that I had always had a passion for showing animals, but I wanted to do more than just that. That passion brought me to attend Iowa Lakes Community College for the Veterinarian Technician Degree. I then interned at Dickinson County Animal Clinic and worked here part-time while in college. I enjoy Minnesota's many lakes by boating, fishing, and swimming. I also have two Labrador Retrievers named Annabelle and Oscar, who enjoy the lake life as much as I do. I am excited to see and meet your furry family members at our clinic!
Penny (Olthoff) Grimmius
I was born in Amery, Wisconsin and grew up in Worthington, Minnesota. After graduating in 1982, 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.
Jessica Sander
I grew up in Milford with dogs, cats, and horses. I was an avid 4-Her where I showed horses. I graduated from Okoboji High school in 2000 and Iowa Lakes Community College in 2002 with an Associate of Arts degree. I spent 2 summers working on a dude ranch in Colorado and a winter season on a dude resort in Arizona. In my down time I enjoy reading, painting, spending time with family and friends, and showing horses with my mom. I have a rescue cat named Elliot and share 4 horses with my mom, Booger, Willy, Rusty, and George. I have been working at DCAC since fall of 2023 and really enjoy helping owners and pets in the area!
Julia Hankinson
Growing up in Washington State, I spent most of my time outdoors horseback riding, camping, and hiking trails on Mt. Rainier. From a young age I knew I wanted to pursue a career in animal care, which has led me to work at various different veterinary clinics, ranging from large to small animal practices. With recently moving here to Iowa, my goal is to finish my veterinary technician program and help the pets here at Spirit Lake!
Devin Eaton
Bio Coming Soon!
Chelsie Eckerman
I was born and raised here, in Spirit Lake, Iowa. I have been obsessed with animals since I was a little kid and wanted to be a zoo keeper growing up. Unfortunately that involved a lot of science and math so I instead got degrees in Sociology and Human Services. I now live south of Fostoria on an acreage with my partner Cody and our two Rottweilers, Rocky & Lucy. Once the pandemic hit, I decided I didn’t have enough dogs in my life and started working in Boarding at the Dickinson County Animal Clinic, and I fell in love with all of our dog friends who come to stay with us!