TUCSON, Ariz. — An Arizona doctor was recently arrested at his workplace for allegedly performing an unauthorized and illegal surgery on a dog, the Sheriff's Department announced.

Dr. Raquel Marie Mercado Sepulveda was taken into custody by the Pima County Sheriff's Department after a multi-year investigation into animal cruelty charges.

County animal control received a tip about the doctor in 2022, and authorities seized 36 dogs and two cats from Mercado Sepulveda's home and clinic in March 2023.

Last week, the Sheriff's Office executed warrants at multiple locations, resulting in investigators seizing 14 dogs and three rabbits from the doctor's home.

The investigation is ongoing and the suspect faces charges of felony animal cruelty, the sheriff's office said.

The only licensed physician in Arizona matching the suspect's name is a Tucson-based doctor specializing in obstetrics and gynecology, according to Arizona Medical Board records.

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