Court Grants Shut Down Of Controversial Sloth Encounters In Hauppauge

HAUPPAUGE, NY — Suffolk County Supreme Court has officially ordered the temporary shut down of Sloth Encounters of Hauppauge, a business where people can pay to pet, feed and hold sloths, on Thursday.

According to court documents, the Town of Islip's temporary restraining order against the business, which was filed on Wednesday, was granted before Honorable Supreme Court Judge Joseph A. Santorelli. The town also filed a permanent injunction to shut it down, pending a hearing on Oct. 6 at 9:30 a.m.

Last month, Sloth Encounters, which is located at 551 Veterans Memorial Highway, was ticketed in connection with possession of wild animals and other violations of the Islip Town Code. The business owner pleaded not guilty to the violations on Wednesday.

Dueling petitions have been created around Sloth Encounters, with one advocating for the business and the other pushing for its shutdown.

Humane Long Island President John Di Leonardo told Patch that the restraining order is a success for the animals' well-being.

"Sloth Encounters' attorney not only admitted in court today that his client failed to take a litany of appropriate steps before opening his business, but repeated the wildly absurd claim that sloths – tree-dwelling tropical animals with sharp teeth and four inch claws – are not wild animals," said Di Leonardo. "Humane Long Island is thrilled that relief will soon be underway not only for the town, but also for the suffering sloths."

See related:

• Town Of Islip To File Injunction To Shut Down Sloth Encounters
• Sloth Encounters Of Hauppauge Cited For Wild Animal Possession
• Sloth Encounters Owner 'Going Nowhere' Despite Claims Of Mistreatment: "Patch AM" Interview