A Tucson doctor has been arrested on suspicion of animal cruelty after investigators say she was performing "unlicensed and illegal surgeries on dogs."
Dr. Raquel Marie Mercado-Sepulveda, 42, an obstetrician/gynecologist, was taken into custody Thursday at her office near North Wilmot Road and East Carondelet Drive, the Pima County Sheriff's Department said Monday in a news release.
She faces felony animal cruelty charges, the release said.
The department searched multiple locations on Jan 17 and Jan. 18, as part of an investigation that started from a tip to the Pima County Animal Care Center in late 2022, the release said. The Drug Enforcement Administration also is working on the investigation, the release said.
Fourteen dogs and three rabbits were seized at Mercado-Sepulveda's residence along with other evidence in the case, investigators say.
In March of 2023, a search warrant was served at the doctor's residence and her medical office. At that time, 36 dogs and two cats were seized, along with other items of evidence.
This investigation is ongoing.
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