| Neil Johnson, Big Radio | Reporter/Anchor
Local pet owners and colleagues say they are mourning the loss of prominent Janesville veterinarian Steve Cervantes. They say he led his life as a veterinary doctor with all his heart.
News of Cervantes' death was broken in a Facebook post published Friday by Badger Veterinary Hospital, a chain of veterinary hospitals that Cervantes co-owned and operated in Janesville, Beloit and Cambridge since 1991.
Mr Cervantes' longtime business partner, veterinarian Scott Spaulding, said Mr Cervantes was on vacation in Belize when he suddenly died Thursday of natural causes, apparently from heart disease. Told.
He was 61 years old.
Spaulding described Cervantes as a tireless veterinarian who was happiest helping animals and their owners. He said Mr. Cervantes should be remembered as a great and kind veterinarian who loved animals of all kinds, while also championing local nonprofits and caring for thousands of endangered and abandoned animals. He said he should also be remembered as a dedicated humanitarian who helped animals.
In 2009, Cervantes was one of the few people to spearhead Friends of Noah, a nonprofit animal adoption network. That was at a time when Rock County was reeling from the closure of the General Motors assembly plant in Janesville.
Spaulding said Cervantes and his spouse, Julie Cervantes, were instrumental in their volunteer roles within the nonprofit organization, helping to protect the lives of thousands of unemployed families in Rock County. He said he helped create a network of temporary and permanent owners of 1,000 pets. their home.
Badger Vet's Facebook post said Servantez's impact on her co-workers and customers was “profound” and that she was “genuinely dedicated” to her profession, co-workers, animals and family. .
Spaulding said Cervantes was an incurable prankster, a loyal business partner and a man who lived to create healing connections with humans and pets.
One commenter on Badger Vet's Facebook post wrote: Cervantes was truly the best. I have never met a more caring and compassionate doctor. He took care of all of our fur babies and even came to our house to take care of them. ”
The Southern Wisconsin Humane Society in Janesville said in a separate Facebook post that as a longtime director of the nonprofit, Cervantes helped guide the planning and design of its new Janesville Animal Shelter. wrote.
In its post, the Humane Society said Cervantes spent countless hours helping Humane Society veterans at pet shelters, adding, “He was known for being quick to roll up his sleeves and help.” “I was under a lot of pressure,” he said.
One commenter, a customer of Servantez at Badger Vet, wrote, “He will be missed by many people and pets.”
Cervantes hosted an occasional radio call-in show, “Ask a Vet,” on WCLO.
