Activists Protest Sloth Encounters Of Long Island; Business Petitions

HAUPPAUGE, NY — Protesters gathered outside of Islip Town Hall on Tuesday to rally against Sloth Encounters of Hauppauge, a business that allows people to hold, feed and pet sloths. The protest was organized by Humane Long Island, an animal advocacy organization.

John Di Leonardo, president of Humane Long Island, has urged the Islip town board to shut down Sloth Encounters, arguing it violates town code.

Larry Wallach, an animal specialist at Sloth Encounters, said the sloths are well taken care of, FOX 5 NY reported.

"They have a lot of room, a lot of food, the best veterinarian, they're treated amazingly," Wallach told FOX 5 NY.

The Sloth Encounters habitats are meant to simulate the jungles of Costa Rica, where sloths are native.

Sloth Encounters was recently issued multiple violations by the Town of Islip, including change of use without a permit, lack of fire extinguishers, lack of carbon monoxide detectors and electrical hazards, Newsday reported.

Wallach told News 12 Long Island those violations have been corrected and said his business is "absolutely 100 percent safe."

The building used to be a pool supply store and has a Suffolk County petting zoo permit, but not a Town of Islip change-of-use permit, CBS News reported.

Angie Carpenter, supervisor of the Town of Islip, told reporters that Sloth Encounters must apply for a change of use permit since the building is being used for something "dramatically different" than its previous use.

"At this point, if they're operating they're doing so illegally," Carpenter said.

Wallach has permits from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Suffolk County Department of Health and said he is addressing any remaining violations, FOX 5 NY reported. Sloth Encounters has until Aug. 29 to resolve any remaining violations; otherwise, the business will have to appear in court, the town attorney told FOX 5 NY.

Two petitions regarding Sloth Encounters were made: one in support of the business and one calling for its shutdown.

Di Leonardo started the latter campaign and has garnered more than 1,000 signatures.

Sloth Encounters countered with a petition named "Support Sloth Encounters LI" and has gotten roughly 240 signatures as of Wednesday afternoon.

"We are currently under attack by supposed animal rights groups who continuously harass and bully our establishment and employees," the business wrote on its Change.Org petition. "Their motivation to shut us down revolves strictly around false accusations and malicious allegations. We tried our best to remain positive and quiet but it's come to a point where we feel we have a responsibility to publicly address the situation."

Di Leonardo does not plan to let up on his opposition to Sloth Encounters.

"We will continue our campaign until Islip shuts down Sloth Encounters and authorities confiscate these suffering animals and place them in reputable sanctuaries where they can live a more natural life," Di Leonardo wrote on his petition.