Danbury Pet Store Has a Troubled History

DANBURY, CT — A local pet store at the center of a current police investigation is no stranger to controversy, or accusations of bizarre animal cruelty.

The owners of Puppy Kisses, at 128 Federal Road in Danbury, were served an eviction notice this week, just a few days after police say some of their employees sold off 20-30 puppies in a secret and unauthorized transaction. But before the store was leash-deep in its current troubles, its previous owner was battling allegations that he not only mistreated and neglected his charges, but operated on them, without the benefit of a veterinary license or even any real experience. His infamous escapades even prompted some ground-breaking pet-protecting legislation.

Richard Doyle (Patch Archive)

Richard Dolyle, of Mahopac, NY, was the owner of American Breeders, a small chain of pet shops with storefronts in Wappingers Falls and Mohegan Lake, NY, as well as the Federal Road site.

In 2015, Doyle performed an unlicensed surgical procedure on the eye of a Neopolitan Mastiff, according to the Department of Agriculture. The procedure, which caused sustained severe bleeding on an inner eyelid, was performed in the Danbury store, according to the DoA. The dog was eventually euthanized.

Doyle was also accused of confining a critically-ill exotic kitten and failing to provide it immediate veterinary intervention until the animal had to be euthanized. He was also charged with failing to provide proper care to a sick Shih-Tzu puppy that was in need of immediate medical care. According to the Department of Agriculture, Doyle brought the puppy to Danbury from one of his New York stores and left it in the care of an employee but without giving it the veterinary care needed to treat it for vomiting, diarrhea and coughing. The puppy had to be euthanized later.

Doyle was later arrested and charged with witness tampering, according to a police report.

Following his second arrest, Doyle's indiscretions got him onto the radar of New York State Senator Terrence Murphy. The senator launched the Protect Our Pets Petition in an effort to put pressure on the Assembly to pass what he calls crucial legislation that seeks to provide added protection to animals across the state. In June 2015, the Senate overwhelmingly passed S.3451, which increases the penalty for multiple convictions of torturing, killing or failing to provide sustenance to an animal to a felony, if convicted within five years from the date of a prior conviction.

All tallied, Doyle found himself in court 16 times. Along that journey, he became the focus of an activist Facebook group, "We the People vs. Richard Doyle," which doggedly cataloged his every battle with the law and organized protests in front of courtrooms for many of his appearances.

In January 2017, Doyle was made to pay $20,000 in fees and penalties in a plea deal that sees him barred from selling pets.

It's unlikely that there will be anymore puppy-related problems originating from 128 Federal Road. The current landlord, Aura Showah, told Patch she has no intentions of ever renting the space to a pet store again.