Animal cruelty allegations against a Tucson doctor came to light in March after a vet notified authorities of a French bulldog having a possibly โbotchedโ cesarean section, court records show.
Dr. Raquel Marie Mercado Sepulveda, 42, an obstetrician/gynecologist, claimed having no knowledge of the surgery, or having performed it on the French bulldog named Kamari, according to a probable cause statement filed in Pima County Justice Court.
Investigators executing a search warrant noted that they overheard Mercado Sepulveda speaking to Kamariโs owner on the phone. She allegedly encouraged the man to tell investigators that the surgery had been done by a vet in Mexico, the court filing says.
A search of the doctorโs phone revealed that as the search was being executed, the doctor texted Kamariโs owner, saying she is โin trouble for helping.โ
It was only later that Mercado Sepulveda admitted to seeing the dog for nausea symptoms, but not for a c-section, records say. She told investigators she escorted the dog and owners to the place where the dog would have its surgery performed.
A local vet who checked on Kamari following the procedure said the dog had not been shaved at the incision site, which is not standard practice. The vet believed the procedure had not been performed by a licensed veterinarian, the Pima County Sheriffโs Department said.
Pima County Animal Care Center staff provided extensive veterinary care to Kamari over the course of several weeks after the dog was confiscated as part of the investigation.
No details about Kamariโs care or whereabouts was immediately available Friday.
Mercado Sepulveda was taken into custody Jan. 18 at her office near North Wilmot Road and East Carondelet Drive, and faces felony animal cruelty charges, the Sheriffโs Department said Monday.
During the search of Mercado Sepulvedaโs residence and medical office on Wilmot during the arrest, 14 dogs and three rabbits were seized. An earlier investigation turned up 36 dogs and two cats, the Sheriffโs Department has said.
Attempts to reach Mercado Sepulveda for comment last week were not successful.
Mercado Sepulvedaโs medical license, renewed Jan. 9, remains intact, according to the Arizona Medical Boardโs website. It is slated for renewal in January 2026, records show.
Mercado Sepulveda had one letter of reprimand issued by the board since she began practicing more than 15 years ago.
The board initiated the review of Mercado Sepulvedaโs work after receiving notification that a hospital had limited her privileges. Based on this, in May 2021 staff requested a medical consultant review of the doctorโs care of five patients.
The board noted that Mercado Sepulvedaโs performance was โsatisfactory,โ writing that she performed โvery wellโ on her oral examination in obstetrics and gynecology, and called her medical knowledge โexcellentโ. Additionally, it was noted that Sepulveda responded well to four different clinical emergency scenarios.
Evaluators, however, said they noticed deficiencies in medical record keeping and issues with wound repair simulation. The facility opined that Mercado Sepulveda was safe to practice medicine with minor deficiencies, but could benefit from a practice coach and proctoring five or six wound closures.
Many of Mercado Sepulvedaโs patients, dating back more than a decade, have left reviews online, praising the doctor and their treatment.
Many reviewers gave thanks to the doctor and her staff for making their birthing experience a good one.
The interim complaint filed for Mercado Sepulvedaโs arrest alleges that she is associated with Bully City Kennels, which was the organization that performed the c-section on Kamari.
