TUCSON, Ariz. — An Arizona doctor was recently arrested at her office after she allegedly conducted unlicensed and illegal surgeries on dogs, the sheriff's department said.
Dr. Raquel Marie Mercado-Sepulveda was taken into custody by the Pima County Sheriff's Department after a years-long investigation into allegations of animal cruelty.
The county's animal control department received a tip in 2022 about the doctor, which resulted in authorities seizing 36 dogs and two cats from Mercado-Sepulveda's residence and medical office in March 2023.
Last week, the sheriff's office executed warrants at multiple locations that resulted in investigators seizing 14 dogs and three rabbits from the doctor's home.
The investigation is ongoing and the suspect is facing felony charges of animal cruelty, the sheriff's office said.
According to Arizona Medical Board records, the only licensed physician in Arizona matching the suspect's name is a Tucson-based doctor who specializes in obstetrics and gynecology.
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