On International Sloth Day 2022, Sloth Encounters owner Larry Wallach planned to haul two baby sloths to the Bethpage Equestrian Center for “baby sloth selfies,” however, following Humane Long Island’s plans to protest and meeting with the owner, the Bethpage Equestrian Center Equestrian Center canceled Sloth Encounters’ appearance and will not allow Sloth Encounters’ to exhibit at the equestrian center moving forward.
Wallach’s attempt to move these “sloth selfies” to Oyster Bay came after the Suffolk County Supreme Court granted Islip a Temporary Restraining Order enjoining Wwallach from publicly exhibiting, harboring, or possessing wild animals within the township until further orders from the court.
Wallach’s planned Old Bethpage exhibition was particularly controversial as sloths are listed as sloths are listed as “dangerous animals” within Oyster Bay’s prohibited animal list and an Oyster Bay town spokesperson told Newsday in September that sloths were not permitted within the township.
Shortly after the owner of the Bethpage Equestrian Center agreed to cancel this event, Oyster Bay Town Code Enforcement informed Humane Long Island and the equestrian center of their intention to give summonses to Wallach and the Bethpage Equestrian Center if sloths were harbored or exhibited as previously planned.
Recent Comments