Animal Rights Protestors Call for Closure of Mohegan Pet Store
Dozens of pet owners and animal rights activists joined together Saturday afternoon to call for the closing of a Mohegan Lake pet store whose owner is facing animal cruelty charges.
Standing on a sidewalk in front of the American Breeders store, located next to Subway, which only advertises itself as “Puppies,” protestors peacefully demonstrated with signs that expressed such messages as, “No excuse for animal abuse,” “How sick is that puppy in the window?” and “Puppy Mills Breed Misery.”
Those in attendance stressed they were bringing attention to the alleged poor treatment animals receive at American Breeders from their owner, Richard Doyle, 55, of Mahopac, who has been arrested by the Dutchess County SPCA and the Connecticut Department of Agriculture. In July, Doyle was charged with animal cruelty and the deaths of two animals for improper medical care. He pled not guilty and called the allegations false.
A Facebook page called “Puppies—Help Close Mohegan Store” has attracted nearly 2,400 followers and thousands have signed a petition to close American Breeders.
Karen Conlon of Millbrook, organizer of Saturday’s protest, said opponents of American Breeders were successful in shutting down a store Doyle owned in Wappingers Falls.
“We’re trying to spread awareness to the public,” she said. “It’s amazing how many people don’t know about this. It’s not just him. It’s other shops that buy from puppy mills. For him it’s just profit. He doesn’t care. He’s an awful man.”
Stacy Ronga concurred, saying, “It’s atrocious. It’s horrible. It shows a pattern. The pets can’t tell us. Do the right thing.”
Elena Reitzberger said she purchased a dog from Doyle for $1,400 and four days later had to go to the veterinarian for medical problems, which eventually cost her about $7,000.
“I looked all over for a puppy. He even misrepresented the size of the dog,” she said. “Mr. Doyle was very mean.”
The Mohegan store was bustling Saturday with many customers cuddling with small animals. Employees welcomed in the media to take photos, but said Doyle was not working. A detailed email sent to Doyle seeking responses to the allegations of protestors was not answered.
A man who said he was friends with several of the employees at American Breeders in Mohegan confronted the protestors outside and defended the conditions of the store and the treatment of the animals.
“I’ve never seen the man mistreat an animal in my life,” said the man, who refused to identify himself. “He’s not a decrepit business man. The man is not a terrible person. People are judging him on a few things.”
George Ondek, an animal rights activist from Peekskill, said it was “outrageous” for a dog to be sold with a damaged eye as protestors alleged occurred with American Breeders.
“I’m for more humane treatment of our four-legged friends,” Ondek said. “I think there should be more surveillance of the animals.”
Doyle is next due in court at the end of March.
Rick has more than 40 years’ experience covering local news in Westchester and Putnam counties, running the gamut from politics and crime to sports and human interest. He has been an editor at Examiner Media since 2012. Read more from Rick’s editor-author bio here. Read Rick’s work here: https://www.theexaminernews.com/author/pezzullo_rick-writer/
