Nassau Wallaby Owner Issued Summons For Harboring Exotic Animal

A man who was keeping a starving wallaby in his garage in East Rockaway has received a summons from the Town of Hempstead.

The animal was found in the garage of Larry Wallach's home on Seawan Road and removed by the Nassau County SPCA, Newsday reports. The wallaby is being rehabilitated at the Massapequa Animal Hospital before it will be sent to a sanctuary.

According to Newsday, Wallach was issued summons for harboring the wallaby and a ball python, construction without a permit for an in-ground pool and no certificate of completion for central air conditioning units. He could face fines of up to $3,500 for the animals.

Wallabies are smaller relatives of kangaroos, and are native to Australia and New Guinea. Like kangaroos, they have pouches in which they keep their young.

Wallach is due in First District Court in Hempstead on April 20.