A South Florida woman was arrested and police are searching for a man after police say they posed as veterinarians, and left one person’s dog dead.
According to police, Jose Alvarez-Marrero and his girlfriend Sophia Gonzalez were operating an unlicensed veterinary clinic out of their home in Hialeah.
The victim, Omarnestor Delrio, told police that he took his 12-year-old American Bulldog named Royalty to Marrero to have a procedure performed. Delrio said that after the procedure, he returned to Marrero for help on several occasions after noticing that Royalty was not recovering from the operation.
Delrio eventually went to a credible veterinary clinic, but it was too late. Royalty died from complications resulting from an unsterile surgical procedure.
"I lost my dog that I had for 12 years," said Delrio.
Gonzalez, 40, was arrested and charged with practicing veterinary medicine without a license and animal cruelty. Marrero, 58, was not home when Gonzalez was arrested. However, he spoke with detectives over the phone and said he was on his way home to speak with them, but never arrived. He remains at-large.
Anyone with information on Marrero’s whereabouts are urged to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-TIPS.
