Hauppauge-based Sloth Encounters has closed, the business' attorney announced Thursday.
Islip Town officials confirmed Thursday that all animals had been removed by Monday. Suffolk County Superior Court Judge Joseph Santorelli ordered Larry Wallach, a federally licensed animal exhibitor who owns Sloth Encounters, to remove all animals from the property by March 25.
“The animals have been removed,” said William Wexler, an attorney representing Islip. “I will come back to report on April 18th to make sure the animals are not harmed.” [return] and to confirm [Wallach is] Still compliant. ”
The location of the removed animals, including the sloths that were a main feature of Mr. Wallach's business, was not mentioned in court.
Stephen Politi, a lawyer representing Mr. Wallach, said his client's business may be “shut down,” but “he will be back.”
“The only question the court is interested in is whether they are operating their business in compliance with all town codes. [the business] We follow compliance,” Politi said.
In February, the Town of Islip asked the Suffolk County Supreme Court to hold Wallach in criminal contempt. Lawyers for the town argued that Wallach should be jailed and fined up to $150,000 for violating court orders to stop selling pets at least three times, according to court records. ing.
Santorelli said Thursday that no contempt motion has yet been filed. The case is scheduled to return to court on April 18th.
John Di Leonardo, executive director of the animal advocacy nonprofit Humane Long Island, has been following the case. Even though the business is closed, he said he is still concerned about the welfare of the animals.
“I'm grateful for the progress, but there's still a lot of work to be done,” said Di Leonardo, a longtime critic of sloth encounters.
Wallach started his Veterans Memorial Highway business in June 2022, charging $50 an hour to hold, feed and pet the sloths.
The town argued that Sloth Encounter's certificate of occupancy specifically designated it as a pool supply store.Islip Fire Marshal issued a violation notice to Wallack in July 2022, citing exposed electrical panels, lack of a carbon monoxide alarm, lack of a portable fire extinguisher and change of use of the building.
According to court records, when the fire marshal returned in August of that year, the fire code violations had been addressed, but otherwise there were no changes to the property, prompting the town to issue Wallach a citation. Ta.
Islip Town also ticketed the business in August 2022 for possession of wild animals.
In September last year, Islip's lawyers began the process of seeking a permanent injunction to crack down on the violations. According to court documents, Santorelli was granted a temporary restraining order against Sloth Encounter on September 15, 2022, restricting him from “publicly exhibiting, possessing, or harboring any wild animal anywhere within the Town of Islip.” issued.
In March 2023, Santorelli upgraded the restraining order to a preliminary injunction.
He ordered the industry to stop selling pets in July 2023.
