Feds cited owner of Sloth Encounters in Hauppauge for violating Animal Welfare Act
A USDA report describes an inspector witnessing an employee “improperly handling a juvenile kangaroo during feeding” which can lead to “aspiration and accompanying aspiration pneumonia.”
News 12 Staff
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Jul 17, 2023, 5:01 PM
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Updated 292 days ago
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4h agoSloth Encounters' owner Larry Wallach has been cited by the federal government for violating the Animal Welfare Act.
A USDA report describes an inspector witnessing an employee “improperly handling a juvenile kangaroo during feeding” which can lead to “aspiration and accompanying aspiration pneumonia.”
The report also references a video posted to social media that showed over 10 people inside the sloth exhibit speaking at loud volumes, which is “known to cause stress in sloths."
The video included a portion where the report describes a sloth behaving in a manner that “can be indicative of behavioral stress and discomfort and could potentially harm members of the public."
Wallach was previously found guilty of violating court orders. He had previously been cited for over 50 federal violations of the Animal Welfare Act.
A Suffolk Supreme Court judge has also ordered his business in Hauppauge to halt pet sales.
In a statement to News 12, Wallack said, "We get inspected all the time. There are things that the USDA would like for all facilities to do. It's not like they write you a summons, it's not like they close you down, it's nothing bad. It's just a normal inspection."
