Our Team
Meet the team of professionals that will be taking care of your pets!

Meet The Team
Halle Zahnow
Receptionist
Halle started working at Somerset Animal Hospital in the spring of 2019.
She is currently a student at Somerset High School and taking some animal science courses at UWRF. She is planning on going on to study veterinary medicine in college. She has a dog, Frankie, and a rabbit, Poppie. She lovee spending time with friends and family, and during the summer, her favorite place to be is at the lake.
Gretchen Raddatz
Staff Lead and Receptionist
Gretchen has been part of the Somerset Animal Hospital team since August 2017. Besides working at the clinic, Gretchen works at a local dairy farm caring for the calves. She is also a 2015 graduate of Animal Behavior College, where she obtained certification as a dog trainer. She currently owns and operates her own training and boarding business, Raddatz Training Services.
When Gretchen is not working or training dogs, she loves to be outside either on a hike with her dogs, horseback riding, jet skiing, or snowmobiling. Of course, she spends free time with her array of pets including 4 dogs, 4 cats, a horse, a bearded dragon, two jersey steers and 4 koi fish amongst an assorted verity of fish. She also opens up her home to boarding and training clients and foster dogs needing a second chance and training.
Anyssa Pederson
Veterinary Assistant
Anyssa is one of our veterinary assistants. She is a California native and moved to Wisconsin to attend school. She is currently a student at UWRF with a major in pre-veterinary medicine and a minor in chemistry. After graduation, she plans to attend veterinary school.
Anyssa started at Somerset Animal Hospital in October 2020 and has enjoyed getting to know the clients and their pets.
When Anyssa is not at work or school, she can be found hanging out with her friends, swimming, or drinking coffee with a good book in hand.
Alix Jents
Veterinary Assistant
Alix is one of our veterinary assistants and is currently attending school at WITC in the veterinary technology program. Her goal is to become a Certified Veterinary Technician after graduation. Alix started at Somerset Animal Hospital in October 2019 and has enjoyed getting to know the clients and meeting their pets. Most of all, Alix loves helping clients and pets as much as possible.
She can be found spending time with her family and her animals (2 dogs, 3 cats, chickens, ducks, and more) or fishing on a boat in her free time.
Jenna Finch
Veterinary Assistant
Jenna joined our team in November 2019. She grew up in Stillwater, MN, and recently crossed the border to Somerset, WI.
Jenna is a recent graduate from Century College with an Associate’s Degree in Liberal Arts. She will be starting at UWRF in the fall to pursue her Bachelor’s in Animal Sciences.
Jenna and her husband just moved to the Somerset area and are loving it! They share their home with her dog, Nina, and three cats, Roxas, Odin, and Autumn. When Jenna is not at work, she can be found doing homework, swimming, hanging with her husband and pets, and cooking!
Marina Leider
Veterinary Assistant
Marina’s hometown is Manitowoc, WI. She graduated in 2018 with a BS in Animal Science from UWRF. Marina enjoys being active in my community, where she coaches gymnastics and swim lessons and is a Big Sister through Big Brothers Big Sisters. She has a charcoal lab, three cats, a few chickens, a mini lop, an Arabian, and a Quarter Horse! You can catch her horseback riding, bow fishing, riding her dirt bike, or playing in a softball league in her free time!
Amanda Foss
Certified Veterinary Technician
Amanda has been a Certified Veterinary Technician for 19 years! Amanda joined Somerset Animal Hospital in March 2020 and has enjoyed getting to know clients and patients.
Her interests in practice include preventative care and client education.
Amanda lives in Somerset with her husband, two kids, three cats, and their tripawed dog. She enjoys reading, cooking, and traveling when she is not shuttling around kids to hockey, gymnastics, or Girl Scouts.
Sara Lamberta
Certified Veterinary Technician
Sara is a Hudson native and has been a Certified Veterinary Technician since 2010 after graduated from MSB/Globe college veterinary technology program and obtaining her certification. She worked in Andover, MN, for 5 years. Sara then took a hiatus to focus on her children.
Sara joined us at SAH in September 2020. Her interests in practice include client education, feline behavior, and ophthalmic conditions.
When Sara is not working, she enjoys spending time with her husband, 3 children, 2 dogs, and 3 cats. If she has any leftover free time, you can find her crafting, gaming, or spending time outdoors.
Anna Stoddard
Practice Manager
Anna started working at Somerset Animal Hospital in March 2016 as a receptionist. She grew up in Stillwater, MN, where her Family Vet was Dr. Art Rutscher. It was always her dream to grow up and work in a Veterinary Clinic. When she moved to Somerset, WI, she jumped at the opportunity to work with Dr. Art. In November 2019, she became Practice Manager.
She has always had a passion for animals of all sizes. She has been involved in animal rescues for about 12 years, and now, with the help of Somerset Animal Hospital and staff, she organizes her own private rescue group, Paws Alternate Bridge.
Anna currently lives in New Richmond with her son, Matthew, and boyfriend, Greg. They share their home with three dogs, three cats, and the random rescue house guests.
When Anna is not at the clinic or helping with her rescue, she can be found walking or hiking with her dogs, riding motorcycles, or kayaking.
Sonja Wiersma
DVM
Dr. Sonja joined our team in November 2012. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls in 2005. Afterward, she attended Iowa State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, and received her DVM license. Dr. Sonja’s special interests include behavior, surgery, dentistry, pain management, and preventative medicine.
Like most in veterinary medicine, she loves animals, but Dr. Sonja’s inspiration came from when she took her first cat to the vet’s office. At the age of 7, she remembers how the veterinarian took time to answer all of her questions about Tootsie. Even though Tootsie didn’t make it through his illness, she will never forget the vet’s care and compassion for her and Tootsie. Dr. Sonja wanted to make a difference for others the way he had for her.
Outside of the clinic, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, camping, gardening, and reading. She shares her time with her husband, Brent; dog, Booth; cats (Munchkin and Tristan); and lots of chickens.
Sadie Sandstrom
DVM
Dr. Sadie joined our team in 2018. She grew up in rural Ellsworth, WI, where she spent most of her days playing doctor to her family’s pride of barn cats, dogs, and occasional calves. Starting at a young age, Dr. Sadie knew she wanted to provide care for animals and help families love them. She completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls and obtained her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Minnesota.
Over the years of handling animals, Dr. Sadie has learned how each one is different, leading her to strive to make veterinary visits for her patients, especially felines, less stressful for them and their families. Discussing early detection of diseases while helping clients provide a good quality of life at home for the pet is important to Dr. Sadie. Also, being able to help our furry friends pass with dignity and respect when it is time is right is also very important to her. Dr. Sadie loves being a doctor at Somerset Animal Hospital and educating clients while providing a safe and comfortable environment for pet owners to express their concerns and discuss difficult decisions. Of course, Dr. Sadie loves when clients show off the new tricks their pets have learned!
Katherine Brauer
DVM
Dr. Katherine joined our team in July of 2020. She grew up in the Twin Cities metro area of Minnesota. She received her undergraduate degree, Animal Science from the University of Minnesota. She attended Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine and completed her clinicals at the University of Minnesota in 2020.
Her areas of particular interest in veterinary medicine are surgery, dentistry, and preventative medicine.
She has two long-haired cats and one dog, a border collie named Salmiakki. In her free time, Katherine enjoys cross-stitching, crochet, and spending time with family and friends.
Arthur Rutscher
DVM
Dr. Art is a graduate of Stillwater High School. After high school, he attended the University of Minnesota where he completed his undergraduate degree and earned his DVM in 1987. In 1994, Dr. Art opened the At Home Animal Clinic in Stillwater, MN. He opened the Somerset Animal Hospital in 2008. Outside of work, He runs marathons and half-marathons, including 10 consecutive Reggae marathons in Jamaica. Dr. Art and his wife, Carol, have 7 children and 13 grandchildren! They also have 3 dogs and 4 cats to keep them company at home and in their cabin in Hayward.
Abby Roff
Receptionist
Abby started at Somerset Animal Hospital in November 2020 and is one of our full-time receptionists.
She loves spending the day answering the phones and greeting clients with their cute fur babies! She is not currently in school but is looking further into a forever career working with animals.
Abby shares her home with her boyfriend and three cats: Mama, a sweet blind kitty, and two young troublemakers, Sebastian and Henry. She has an endless amount of love for all furry critters and even opens her home to foster kittens. When Abby is not at the clinic, she can usually be found at home in her crafting corner, making whatever crazy idea she has that week!