Town Of Islip To File Injunction To Shut Down Sloth Encounters Of Long Island

HAUPPAUGE, NY — The Town of Islip is filing a permanent injunction to shut down Sloth Encounters of Hauppauge, a business where people can pay to pet, feed and hold sloths, the town announced. A temporary restraining order will also be filed against the business.

"We will continue to prosecute this case to ensure that no business operates illegally in the Town of Islip,” stated Angie M. Carpenter, Islip town supervisor.

Sloth Encounters was ticketed in connection with possession of wild animals and other violations of the Islip Town Code. 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.

Sloth Encounters is at 551 Veterans Memorial Highway. Dueling petitions have been created around Sloth Encounters, with one advocating for the business and the other pushing for its shutdown.

Carpenter previously said the township is treating Sloth Encounters the same as it would any other business in town, and that the business is "currently operating illegally."

The Town of Islip is slated to appear in Riverhead Supreme Court on Thursday to file the injunction and temporary restraining order, according to a town spokesperson.

An attorney for Sloth Encounters returned to court on Wednesday to answer the six appearance tickets issued by the Town of Islip and asked for a conference for Oct. 26.

Larry Wallach, an animal specialist at Sloth Encounters, told News 12 that the sloths are treated well and that he has the proper permits.

"They're getting the best food, the best temperature, the best humidity," Wallach told News 12. "They have plenty of room, they have enough room to run around. They're not nervous, they're just happy. I don't get it."

Through an attorney, Sloth Encounters pleaded not guilty to four town code violations on Wednesday morning, News 12 Long Island reported.

Wallach did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Patch.

Protesters against the business, organized by Humane Long Island, rallied Wednesday morning outside Suffolk County 5th District Court in Ronkonkoma.

"Humane Long Island is thrilled that the Islip Town Board has heeded our calls for an emergency injunction, however, our campaign will continue until Wallach is not only shut down but until his USDA license is revoked and the sloths are confiscated and sent to reputable sanctuaries where they can live a more natural life," said John Di Leonardo, anthrozoologist and president of Humane Long Island. "Suffolk County would be wise to ban petting, feeding, holding, or otherwise harassing captive wild animals swiftly before this wannabe Joe Exotic brings his sordid business elsewhere and endangers yet another Long Island community."

See related:

Sloth Encounters Of Hauppauge Cited For Wild Animal Possession

Sloth Encounters Owner 'Going Nowhere' Despite Claims Of Mistreatment: "Patch AM" Interview