Dr. Merry & Za’atar
Dr. Shannon Merry moved to the Pacific Northwest from Montana in 2002. She earned her doctoral degree from WSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine and holds Bachelor of Science degrees in biology and psychology, with minors in zoology and communications. Her interests in animal welfare and international travel have taken her abroad for volunteer veterinary and conservation work, including projects with World Vets, Vets Without Borders, and Danta Conservation for the Tropics.
In 2018, Dr. Merry launched Traveling Tails to provide personalized veterinary care to pets in their own homes. The house-call setting gives her time to consider each pet’s health, environment, and quality of life when developing a care plan. She especially values the relationships that grow over years of care and has been fortunate to know some patients from their first puppy or kitten visits through their senior years. When the time comes, she is honored to provide a gentle and peaceful at-home farewell.
Dr. Merry and her husband Patrick share their home with four cats, though she has shared her life with as many as four dogs at once. Their cats have names inspired by favorite international foods: Skyr (Icelandic yogurt), Za’atar (Middle Eastern spice), and sibling pair Lokum (Turkish dessert) and Brezel (pretzel). Outside of work, Dr. Merry and Patrick enjoy making pottery at the Dahmen Barn in Uniontown, playing Dungeons & Dragons with friends, listening to live music, and unwinding with a glass of wine from Patrick’s local winery, Merry Cellars.
Roxanne’s path into veterinary medicine began in western Washington, where she worked as a kennel and veterinary assistant before moving to Pullman in 2008 to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Animal Sciences. Dr. Merry and Roxanne began working together in 2014 and have made an excellent team ever since. Roxanne’s friendly nature, calm demeanor, and strong animal-handling skills make her a valuable part of visits that benefit from an extra set of hands. She is especially skilled at feline blood draws and calming anxious dogs.
When she’s not assisting Dr. Merry, Roxanne divides her time between caring for her spirited orange tabby, Carrot (rescued at just four weeks old), and running her own small business providing in-home pet care. She offers a variety of services independently, including nail trims, gland expression, subcutaneous fluid administration, instruction on pilling or inhaler use, dog walking, and pet sitting.
Contact her directly by text at 360-346-0335 or email RoxanneTrocino@gmail.com.
Roxanne & Carrot