Sloth Encounters starts sale of exotic animals as Town of Islip seeks to shut facility down
Larry Wallach, the owner of Sloth Encounters, says what they are doing is 100% legal under state law and according to the town's zoning code.
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Sloth Encounters in Hauppauge has started selling exotic animals despite an effort by the Town of Islip to shut the facility down.
Instead of operating as a petting zoo, the facility is now selling animals because the building is zoned for retail after a judge ordered it stop operating as a petting zoo.
The business is selling a 5-month-old kangaroo named Bam Bam for $4,000. Several sloths are also for sale, as well as dozens of other exotic pets.
Larry Wallach, the owner of Sloth Encounters, says what they are doing is 100% legal under state law and according to the town's zoning code.
According to the Town of Islip, they are classified as wild animals and cannot be legally sold by Sloth Encounters.
Wallach says the animals were all born in captivity, so they are not technically wild animals. He also says the animals are legal to own as pets under New York State law.
"They're legal pets, I don't know what else to say," Wallach says. "They're not harmed. There's no animal abuse. I have people come every day to buy stuff. I've had thousands of people."
Wallach says prospective buyers can put down a $50 deposit for an educational course about an animal.
Several residents told News 12 they do not think the animals at Sloth Encounters belong in a store and want the facility completely closed down.
Both sides are set to go before a judge on May 31 when the town is filing criminal charges against Wallach.
