Dr. John Howe:
I received my DVM degree from the University of Minnesota in 1977.  I owned and operated a mixed animal practice in North Branch, Minnesota for 7 years and then in 1984, I established North Country Veterinary Clinic here in Grand Rapids.  My veterinary interests include laser surgery, orthopedics, ultrasound and exotics.  I enjoy life in this area and actively participate in hunting and fishing.  I have served on the Minnesota Board of Animal Health where I was President for a number of years, am a Past President of the Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association and currently serve on the Council on Veterinary Service for the American Veterinary Medical Association.














Dr. Candace Smette:
I graduated from North Dakota State University in 1995 with a B.S. in Veterinary Technology.  After 4 years in the veterinary field in North Dakota as a Licensed Veterinary Technologist, I attended Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine and graduated in 2004.  I am a member of the Arrowhead Veterinary Medical Association, Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association, American Veterinary Medical Association, American Animal Hospital Association and the Association of Equine Practitioners.  Several "kids" keep me busy at home--2 indoor and 4 outdoors.  Jerry, a Shepherd/Labrador mix, and I enjoyed competing in obedience trials, agility and pet therapy in his younger years.  Thor, the other indoor kid, is an applehead Siamese mix.  I also have 4 Arabian horses ranging from 1 to 22 years of age that keep me busy with training and going on trail rides.  My hobbies include horseback riding (western and dressage), training dogs and horses, camping, canoeing and hiking.












Dr. William Treichel:
I graduated with a B.S. from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls in 1995 and received my Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Iowa State College of Veterinary Medicine in 1999.  Upon graduation, I began practice in a mixed animal practice south of LaCrosse, Wisconsin.  I practiced there until joining North Country Veterinary Clinic late in February, 2005.  My veterinary interests include soft tissue surgery including laser surgery, internal medicine, oncology but I enjoy almost all aspects of general practice in our mixed animal clinic.   I am married and we have one son.  At home, we have multiple "furry and feathered kids,"--two Labrador Retrievers, Missy and Buster, two cats, Patches and Bucky, a budgie named Wally.  In my spare time, I enjoy fishing (walleye especially), camping, birding, and playing/watching hockey. 

















Dr. Terry Pettey:
I have been in practice for over 14 years and working at North Country since 2006.  Prior to moving to Grand Rapids, my wife and I lived in Lake City, MN.  There I had my own practice.  We were there for over eight years.  Over the years, I have worked with cats, dogs, cattle, horses and even a Siberian Tiger or two.  I enjoy surgery, especially bone surgery.  I also have a lot of experience managing difficult medical cases.  In my free time, my wife and I enjoy the outdoors.  We like to camp, fish, snowmobile, ski, etc.    When we aren't outdoors, we are spending time with our four cats and our two labs.  I look forward to helping you at North Country Veterinary Clinic.