Sloth Encounters On LI Cited For Wild Animal Possession

HAUPPAUGE, NY — Sloth Encounters was ticketed in connection with possession of wild animals and other violations of the Islip Town Code. Four appearance tickets were doled out Monday.

The three other violations are occupancy of the building without Fire Marshal approval; change of use; and prohibited use in a business 2 zone, according to the Town of Islip.

The violations were issued by the Town of Islip Fire Marshal's Office on Monday — the correction date for the original violations that were issued to Sloth Encounters in July, the town stated. The appearance tickets are returnable in court on Sept. 14, the town said.

“The Town of Islip is treating Sloth Encounters as it would any other business operating in the Town," Islip Supervisor Angie Carpenter stated. "This business is currently operating illegally, and the business owner and the landlord have been issued a total of six appearance tickets for September 14. We will explore any and all legal remedies available to us, to ensure that no business operates illegally in our Town."

Sloth Encounters, at 551 Veterans Memorial Highway, charges money for people to hold, feed and pet sloths. Dueling petitions have been created around Sloth Encounters, with one advocating for the business and the other pushing for its shutdown.

Protesters, organized by animal advocacy organization Humane Long Island, have been urging for Sloth Encounters to be shuttered.

Humane Long Island has scheduled another protest at Islip Town Hall for Sept. 13 to "urge the town to expedite the closure of this seedy business and protect animals and children alike," Di Leonardo said.

Larry Wallach, an animal specialist at Sloth Encounters, appeared on Patch AM on Aug. 19 and said he is "going nowhere."

Wallach said he has been working with animals for more than 45 years and that he was an officer with the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals for 15 years.

"What I'm doing with the sloths is fantastic," Wallach said on Patch AM. "They're treated beautifully. They eat beautifully. They have the best veterinarians. They are not animals that are taken out of the jungle in Costa Rica. They're 10th generation captively bred."

Wallach said while Di Leonardo can "pick on" him, all Di Leonardo is doing is making Wallach "busier."

Di Leonardo, in an Aug. 17 interview on Patch AM, said the nocturnal sloths are being "harassed and forced into close encounters with strangers during daylight hours."