Dr. Sergio Ivan Rubio (1944-2020) was widely respected as a doctor of veterinary medicine and was known as an excellent diagnostician. Originally from Iquitos, Perú, he received his veterinarian license from Peru in 1967. As an immigrant to the United States in 1970, he needed to establish his license, and by 1976, he had studied and attained licenses in three states. He decided to practice in Jackson Heights, the most culturally diverse neighborhood in the country, and dedicated 40 years to the community.

Recognizing the importance of pet ownership, he also understood the barriers for low-income people and deliberately kept his fees low, forgave debts, and discounted visits to enable people to afford pet companionship. He volunteered his services to feral animal rescuers and was acknowledged for providing 10 years of unpaid service in participation with the Alliance for Animal Rescue in a mayoral initiative to reduce euthanasia rates. Initially, he worked two jobs at Bideawee and North Shore before establishing one of the first mobile pet clinics to help disabled people and seniors who had difficulty in travelling with a pet to a traditional clinic.

He knew the challenges of being an immigrant firsthand and believed in extending a helpful hand to other immigrants. He encouraged education, helped people fill out school applications, called admission offices on behalf of students, and gave advice on career options. He also hired from the community and served as a role model to others seeking to achieve the American dream as he had. Considered a good neighbor, he had excellent relations with fellow store owners. When the owner of the Pizza Sam next to his office had passed, he would frequently check on the owner’s son to make sure he was all right and let him know he could reach out if he needed a friend. When a pet owner lost a pet, he demonstrated his compassion by opening his clinic on his day off to help the client grieve.

On October 12, 2022, a ceremony was held to dedicate the intersection of Northern Boulevard and 89th Street, located next to Rubio’s International Animal Clinic where he practiced, as Dr. Sergio I. Rubio Way. It was the first time that a street in New York City was co-named for a Peruvian American.