Critters & Such Pet Care

Critters & Such Pet Care is a full-service veterinary medical facility, located in Decorah, IA. The professional and courteous staff at Critters & Such Pet Care seeks to provide the best possible medical care, surgical care and dental care for their highly-valued patients.

We are committed to promoting responsible pet ownership, preventative health care and health-related educational opportunities for our clients. Critters & Such Pet Care strives to offer excellence in veterinary care to Decorah and surrounding areas.

Please take a moment to contact us today, to learn more about our veterinary practice and to find our more information about how Critters & Such Pet Care can serve the needs of you and your cherished pet.


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Merill Guarneri, DVM

Years in Practice: 23

Education: Iowa State University

Email:
[email protected]



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Alicia Waters

Years in Practice: 4


  • Alicia Waters
    Alicia Waters
    Veterinary Assistant
    Alicia joined the practice in 2013 as a veterinary assistant. She graduated from Decorah High School. in 2005 and graduated from Kirkwood in 2007 with an AAS degree. She currently resides in Ridgeway with her significant other, John and 3 pitbulls, Lola, Cyrus and Squats. Alicia enjoys dog training.
  • Dr. Merill
    Merill Guarneri DVM
    Owner, Veterinarian

    Dr. Merill originally planned on becoming a doctor for humans, although many people told her that she ought to become a veterinarian. When she took a job as a Veterinary Assistant during college, that all changed—Dr. Merill realized that she had found her true calling! Her passion hasn’t wavered since. She’s proud to own and operate Critters & Such Pet Care and provide the animal parents and pets of the area with top-quality veterinary care every single day. 

    Dr. Merill grew up in Sioux City, Iowa and attended Drake University to earn her chemistry degree in late 1989. After graduating, she moved to Florida and took a Veterinary Assistant job in Destin while planning her path to veterinary school. Next, after gaining acceptance to Iowa State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Merill moved back to Ames in the summer of 1990 to earn her Doctorate. She graduated in May of 1994, then launched her career as a veterinarian by signing on at a small-animal practice in Elkader. 

    On the second day of 1995, Dr. Merill opened her first veterinary practice—also called Critters & Such Pet Care—in Strawberry Point, Iowa. Five years and three children later, she moved to Springfield, Missouri for a time to work in a multi-doctor practice before moving back to northeastern Iowa in late 2000. She would spend the next several years providing small-animal care in a number of practices before deciding to explore practice ownership once again. In August of 2006, she opened Critters & Such Pet Care, and the clinic moved to its current location in March of 2011. Dr. Merill and her team have been here ever since!

    Dr. Merill recently finished a post graduate certification course in Veterinary Spinal Manipulative Therapy.  She is excited to add this integrative modality to the practice. 

    Dr. Merill enjoys running, playing golf, reading, crocheting, and training her dogs during her time away from work. She and her husband, Michael, have three grown children—Domenic, who lives and works in Arizona; Mahogani, who is working and living near Madison, WI; and Kaelan, who currently studies at Iowa State University—and also share their lives with several pets. 

    The furry portion of the family includes two Golden Retrievers,  Xavier and Gambit, both named after X-Men characters. Dr. Merill also has 9 cats, including three indoor felines named Yin, Ebony, and Lupin, as well as four outdoor cats who go by, S’mores, Luna Cheese Lovegood, Orange Juice and Hedwig. The feline contingent is rounded out by Critters & Such Pet Care’s very own clinic cats: Fink and Bellatrix. 

  • kenzie, vet tech
    Kenzie Meyer
    Veterinary Technician

    My name is Kenzie Meyer; I graduated from North Fayette Valley in 2014 and graduated from college in May of 2017 at NICC with my Veterinary Technician Degree. I grew up around West Union my whole life and currently live in Saint Lucas, IA with my husband Justin Meyer and daughter Kyleena and my four legged children. My dog Jaycee, with my two cats Ryan and Ralphie, and my chinchilla Mr. Fluffy.

  • Angelica Knutson
    Angelica Knutson
    Veterinary Technician
    Angelica Knutson completed her veterinary technician training in May of 2017 at Northeast Iowa Community College. She started working at Critters & Such Pet Care shortly thereafter. In September 2017, she married James Knutson. Angelica and James have 2 dogs, Heels, an Australian Cattle Dog and Lil Man, a terrier mix. They also have 3 cats, Snickers, Missy May and Peter. Angelica lives in Waukon. She likes to golf, hunt, fish and anything outdoors.

Location

Office Hours

After Hours Emergency: Call 563-382-1806 and listen for instructions

Regular Hours

Monday

8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Tuesday

10:00 am - 5:00 pm

Wednesday

8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Thursday

8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Friday

8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Saturday

8:00 am - 12:00 pm

Sunday

Closed

Regular Hours

Monday
8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Tuesday
10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Wednesday
8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Thursday
8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Friday
8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Saturday
8:00 am - 12:00 pm
Sunday
Closed