The Pima County Sheriff's Department arrested a woman on January 18th on suspicion of performing unauthorized and illegal surgery on a dog. Raquel Marie Mercado Sepulveda was taken into custody at her Tucson office. In addition to “other evidence,” 14 dogs and three rabbits were seized from her residence, the sheriff's office said.
Dr. Mercado Sepulveda, 42, is a licensed obstetrician-gynecologist, according to the sheriff's office. According to healthgrades.comshe He graduated from Central del Caribe University School of Medicine in 2007 and is affiliated with St. Joseph Hospital.
The sheriff's office said it executed search warrants at “multiple locations” on Jan. 17 and 18 due to an ongoing investigation into animal cruelty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Pima County Animal Shelter, the Pima County Sheriff's Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The investigation has been ongoing since 2022, according to the sheriff's office.
In March 2023, the sheriff's office announced that search warrants were served at her residence and clinic. At the time, 36 dogs and two cats were seized along with “other evidence.”
The investigation is ongoing, the sheriff's office said.
