“Sadly, one dog did not survive,” said the Visalia Police Department in California
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/Amanahy-Becerra-050326-2-1dcba64e41b94cd69a0e16e72457244d.jpg "Fake Social Media Vet Arrested for Allegedly Performing Medical Procedures on Animals Without License")
Credit: Visalia Police Department
NEED TO KNOW
- Amanahy Becerra has been accused of animal cruelty after allegedly performing medical procedures without a license
- The California resident also allegedly shared videos of herself performing veterinary surgical procedures on social media
- Among the procedures, Becerra allegedly performed unlicensed C-sections, spaying, neutering and ear-clippings
A California woman has been accused of animal cruelty after she allegely falsely claimed that she was licensed to perform veterinary procedures and shared videos of herself performing procedures on social media.
The Visalia Police Department shared in a news release on Facebook that Visalia resident Amanahy Becerra, 24, was arrested on Wednesday, April 29, following an animal cruelty investigation.
"Detectives also determined that proper anesthesia was not used, leaving animals to endure intense and unnecessary pain," police said. "As a result, multiple animals suffered serious complications and required emergency veterinary care. Sadly, one dog did not survive."
Authorities had received multiple reports that Becerra was allegedly "performing medical procedures on animals without proper qualifications or training," police said.
Credit: Visalia Police Department
Detectives who investigated the case found evidence that Becerra was allegedly recording some of her procedures and sharing them on social media.
Police spokesperson Liz Jones told ABC 30 that Becerra allegedly performed unlicensed C-sections, spaying, neutering and ear-clippings, all of which are illegal without proper credentials.
Authorities said Becerra was also administering vaccines, ABC 30 reported, though investigators have not said where the medications were obtained.
Jones also told CBS47 that Becerra was offering the services at a significantly discounted rate and told pet owners she was trained to conduct the procedures.
“She was claiming to be licensed but she was not certified. She was not licensed at all,” Jones said. “The situation is very heartbreaking. I mean, dogs and pets are our families. They expect us to take care of them.”
Becerra was taken into custody after a felony arrest warrant was issued for animal cruelty, and detectives also executed a search warrant at her residence. She was booked into the Tulare County Adult Pre-Trial Detention Facility, police said.
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Jones added that investigators are still looking into Becerra's social media videos for further evidence, and authorities are urging anyone with information about the case to come forward and contact Visalia police.
"It'll help us tremendously. I mean, it's physical evidence, it's video evidence, it's there on what she was performing illegally," Jones said.