Mourning the Loss of a Colleague, Dr. Héctor Hernández Cañas

The global veterinary community mourns alongside our Mexican colleagues at the tragic and devastating loss of Mexican veterinarian Dr. Héctor Hernández Cañas.

Honoring the Life and Work of Dr. Héctor Hernández Cañas

The veterinary community around the globe joins our Mexican colleagues in mourning the devastating loss of Dr. Héctor Hernández Cañas, a dedicated veterinarian whose commitment to animal health was met with violence and injustice. Dr. Héctor died in the service of animal care and while advocating for the health and wellbeing of animals, even through the threats and human violence that ultimately claimed his life.

His tragic murder is not only a personal loss for those who knew him but a profound wound to our entire field and animal care communities.

Please read forward with care. The violent story of Dr. Héctor’s death is heart-rending and devastating.

As animal health professionals, violence is close to each of us, daily. We each and all experience the emotional and physical turbulence created at the intersection of the Human-Animal Bond (HAB), declining mental health among animal caregivers, the changing needs of animal medical care, and unresponsive corporate and government agencies.

Violence in the veterinary workplace is not uncommon. Aggression toward caregivers, in every health field is increasing. Every veterinary and animal care professional has experienced emotion aggression from clients and, unfortunately, many of our profession have experienced the threat or the direct effects of social media harassment, in person threats, as well as physical violence.

Dr. Hernández Cañas faced online harassment and threats after the death of a companion animal dog. The dog’s family, after delaying timely medical care, did allow Dr. Héctor to perform surgery to remove a piece of bone lodged in the dog’s esophagus. The animal’s owners were informed of the risks of surgery, complicated by delayed medical treatment and progression of the animal’s condition. Mía, a yorkshire terrier, died after the surgery. After the loss of Mía, the animal’s family escalated from an online slander and harassment campaign to perpetrating direct violence on Dr. Héctor and murdered him by stabbing.

Dr. Héctor died of the wounds and his murder steals a colleague, an experienced and compassionate professional, and a kind and beautiful human out of our world.

No veterinarian should ever fear for their safety when providing care. The escalating threats, misinformation, and harassment faced by veterinary professionals—both online and in real life—demand urgent attention. This is a heartbreaking reminder of the very real and very present threats to the physical and psychologic safety of Healers - across all medical fields, and around the globe.

How can our community respond? What actions are possible in the face of such tragedy?

We are listening carefully to our Mexican colleagues in the community directly affected by Dr. Hernández Cañas’ loss, ensuring that our support is guided by their needs. We are hopeful to learn about ways to support Dr. Héctor’s human and animal family, now without Dr. Héctor’s care and deeply missing his presence.

The Mexico City veterinary community is hosting an advocacy event on February 18th.

The Care for the Healer Resiliency Room will be open during the February 18th event to support our grieving colleagues and colleagues from around the globe. Whether this event brings past memories and triggers up for you or you simply want to support others during this season, please join us.

We will hold provide community-based programming such a mindfulness practices, and somatic care sessions, as well as opportunities to engage with our support team. Because of the scale of this event and the depth of emotion this may bring up, we are seeking licensed mental health support providers to be present throughout the day and following weeks.

If you are able to support financially, please consider donating to allow us to provide mental health support throughout these events. Learn more about this initiative and donate here.

We will share these and other additional ways to support as we learn about them.

While celebrating Dr. Héctor’s life and work, we push forward for awareness and advocacy of the need for Healer safety, Healer advocacy, and Healer care.

We grieve for the loss experienced by Dr. Héctor’s family - both human and animal - that they will forever miss his presence, love, care, and provision is an ugly injustice.

Honored Dr. Hernández Cañas,

We remember you in each animal for which we provide care, with each conscious and engaged pet caregiver we support, and in each connection we make with a colleague. We mourn your loss from our community of colleagues. Rest in peace.

The CFTH Resiliency Room Team 💕🐾