Dr. Raquel Marie Mercado-Sepulveda

On January 18, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department apprehended a female suspect for allegedly conducting unauthorized and unlawful surgeries on canines.

The county’s animal control department received a tip in 2022 about Dr. Raquel Marie Mercado-Sepulveda, 42. Recently she was arrested at her Tucson office. Authorities executed a search warrant at both her residence and medical office. Authorities seized 36 dogs and two cats from the doctor’s residence and medical office back in March of 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.

Dr. Mercado-Sepulveda is a licensed OB-GYN and is currently associated with St. Joseph’s Hospital.

According to the Sheriff’s Office, search warrants were executed at various places on Jan. 17 and 18 as part of an ongoing investigation into allegations of animal cruelty.

The ongoing investigation, which began in 2022, is being conducted by the Pima County Animal Care Center, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration, according to a statement from the Sheriff’s Office.

The Sheriff’s Office stated that the inquiry was still ongoing, no additional information has been released.