Dr. Mileydi Pérez: From Barefoot Dreams in Cuba to Leading Florida’s #1 Veterinary Clinic
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“I was born to heal and protect them”
Q: Doctor, your story is worthy of a movie. From a humble childhood in Cuba to leading Florida’s number one veterinary clinic… at what moment did you know nothing would stop you?
A: I always felt in my heart that I desire to connect with animals. My path was not easy, but I knew nothing would stop me from fulfilling my mission, which was to become a veterinarian.
A Childhood Among Animals
Q: Some know about your beginnings in the countryside, surrounded by horses, goats, cows, and stray dogs. How did that childhood influence your love for animals?
A: For as long as I can remember, my passion was helping the little animals around me. I would go looking for them in the fields of my town and always found some that needed a helping hand—to save them from a trap or heal their wounds. They were my playmates. Helping them was my greatest satisfaction. I believe I was born to heal and protect them.
Starting Over in the United States
Q: You arrived in the United States “with nothing but the clothes on your back.” What was the hardest part about adapting and earning your veterinary license again here?
A: I arrived alone, without family. I went to New York and worked wherever I could, but in my mind and soul I carried the desire to practice the profession I had already graduated from in Cuba. I was a veterinarian without practice, searching for solutions in the Big Apple. Learning English was the hardest part—but not impossible—because when you have fire in your heart, you achieve what you want. And I wanted to revalidate my doctoral degree.
“My True Stars Have Four Paws”
Q: After 20 years of work, you’ve become the trusted veterinarian of many celebrities… but you always say your “true stars” have four paws. Why?
A: Because every little animal that arrives at Miami Animal Clinic is our VIP. My team of doctors, technicians, and assistants all know how important pets are to the people who trust us. We put all our effort and, above all, our love into returning them safely and healthily to their human parents.
Healing and Rescuing, Hand in Hand
Q: Miami Animal Clinic is not only a veterinary hospital but also a refuge of love for homeless animals. What motivated you to combine medicine with rescue and adoption?
A: Love. That is my greatest motivation. Seeing a dog wag its tail and happily go to a new home, or a kitten meowing with joy enriches my soul.
Award-Winning Excellence
Q: This year you were recognized as the best clinic in all of Florida by The Best of Florida 2025. How does it feel to receive this honor, and to what do you attribute to your team’s success?
A: Being named “the best clinic in all of Florida” is a huge motivation to continue doing our work with excellence, as our clients deserve. We will keep working harder and better every day to remain number one in the hearts of the little animals—our true stars.
A Dream Come True: The New Miami Animal Clinic
Q: These October 16, 2025, you will open a new facility with cutting-edge technology. What new services and advantages will it offer to four-legged patients and their human families?
A: This new facility is a dream come true, the culmination of decades of effort. We have advanced technology and equip the clinic with modern devices for our small patients.
“True Love Sometimes Walks on Four Paws”
Q: You affirm that “true love sometimes walks on four paws.” What rescue story has touched your heart the most?
A: At our clinic, someone once left a small box with a two-month-old kitten inside. She was hungry and scared. We immediately examined her and helped her, but little Lily ended up staying with us—at the clinic and in our hearts. For seven years, she has been our pet, companion, and soul of Miami Animal Clinic. She lives happily and knows she is our darling. Lily is the bridge between the animals who arrive and the people who care for them, making the clinic a true home for all.
Message to the Next Generation
Q: For all young people, especially those coming from underprivileged backgrounds who dream of helping animals, what message would you give from your life experience?
A: If you truly have the call, financial resources are not the most important thing. I started from zero. In Cuba, being a veterinarian doesn’t bring status—on the contrary, it doesn’t pay at all. But I did it because it was my true vocation. With a lot of effort, I studied, graduated, earned my degree, and later passed the revalidation in the United States. If you want to help animals, become a rescuer first. Then study, and you will achieve whatever you want to be in life.
“I was born to heal and protect them”
Q: Doctor, your story is worthy of a movie. From a humble childhood in Cuba to leading Florida’s number one veterinary clinic… at what moment did you know nothing would stop you?
A: I always felt in my heart that I desire to connect with animals. My path was not easy, but I knew nothing would stop me from fulfilling my mission, which was to become a veterinarian.
A Childhood Among Animals
Q: Some know about your beginnings in the countryside, surrounded by horses, goats, cows, and stray dogs. How did that childhood influence your love for animals?
A: For as long as I can remember, my passion was helping the little animals around me. I would go looking for them in the fields of my town and always found some that needed a helping hand—to save them from a trap or heal their wounds. They were my playmates. Helping them was my greatest satisfaction. I believe I was born to heal and protect them.
Starting Over in the United States
Q: You arrived in the United States “with nothing but the clothes on your back.” What was the hardest part about adapting and earning your veterinary license again here?
A: I arrived alone, without family. I went to New York and worked wherever I could, but in my mind and soul I carried the desire to practice the profession I had already graduated from in Cuba. I was a veterinarian without practice, searching for solutions in the Big Apple. Learning English was the hardest part—but not impossible—because when you have fire in your heart, you achieve what you want. And I wanted to revalidate my doctoral degree.
“My True Stars Have Four Paws”
Q: After 20 years of work, you’ve become the trusted veterinarian of many celebrities… but you always say your “true stars” have four paws. Why?
A: Because every little animal that arrives at Miami Animal Clinic is our VIP. My team of doctors, technicians, and assistants all know how important pets are to the people who trust us. We put all our effort and, above all, our love into returning them safely and healthily to their human parents.
Healing and Rescuing, Hand in Hand
Q: Miami Animal Clinic is not only a veterinary hospital but also a refuge of love for homeless animals. What motivated you to combine medicine with rescue and adoption?
A: Love. That is my greatest motivation. Seeing a dog wag its tail and happily go to a new home, or a kitten meowing with joy enriches my soul.
Award-Winning Excellence
Q: This year you were recognized as the best clinic in all of Florida by The Best of Florida 2025. How does it feel to receive this honor, and to what do you attribute to your team’s success?
A: Being named “the best clinic in all of Florida” is a huge motivation to continue doing our work with excellence, as our clients deserve. We will keep working harder and better every day to remain number one in the hearts of the little animals—our true stars.
A Dream Come True: The New Miami Animal Clinic
Q: These October 16, 2025, you will open a new facility with cutting-edge technology. What new services and advantages will it offer to four-legged patients and their human families?
A: This new facility is a dream come true, the culmination of decades of effort. We have advanced technology and equip the clinic with modern devices for our small patients.
“True Love Sometimes Walks on Four Paws”
Q: You affirm that “true love sometimes walks on four paws.” What rescue story has touched your heart the most?
A: At our clinic, someone once left a small box with a two-month-old kitten inside. She was hungry and scared. We immediately examined her and helped her, but little Lily ended up staying with us—at the clinic and in our hearts. For seven years, she has been our pet, companion, and soul of Miami Animal Clinic. She lives happily and knows she is our darling. Lily is the bridge between the animals who arrive and the people who care for them, making the clinic a true home for all.
Message to the Next Generation
Q: For all young people, especially those coming from underprivileged backgrounds who dream of helping animals, what message would you give from your life experience?
A: If you truly have the call, financial resources are not the most important thing. I started from zero. In Cuba, being a veterinarian doesn’t bring status—on the contrary, it doesn’t pay at all. But I did it because it was my true vocation. With a lot of effort, I studied, graduated, earned my degree, and later passed the revalidation in the United States. If you want to help animals, become a rescuer first. Then study, and you will achieve whatever you want to be in life.
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Sam Jacob is an accomplished editor at International Business Magazine, where he brings his keen editorial eye and deep understanding of global affairs to the forefront. With a background in architecture and design, Sam offers a unique perspective on the intricate world of international business.
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