VIDEO: Town Of Oyster Bay Cites Exotic Animal Exhibitor

LOCUST VALLEY, NY — The Town of Oyster Bay issued a citation to exotic animal exhibitor Larry Wallach on Wednesday, officials said.

Wallach, owner of Sloth Encounters, was issued the citation by town code enforcement outside of Locust Valley's Karmic Grind coffee shop on Jan. 28, officials said.

Town of Oyster Bay officials said Karmic Grind called the SPCA to report him showing up with the animals. The Nassau County Police Department and code enforcement showed up to the scene, officials said.

Wallach was issued an appearance ticket for possessing non-permitted species under the law, Town of Oyster Bay officials said. Sloth Encounters and Wallach could not immediately be reached for comment.

John Di Leonardo, anthrozoologist and executive director of Humane Long Island, expressed outrage at the situation. "Larry Wallach has no legal right to exhibit sloths or a kangaroo, and federal authorities must act immediately to cite him, confiscate these animals, and place them in reputable sanctuaries where they can finally live more natural lives," he said. "This case makes clear that New York State must pass the legislation sponsored by Senator Monica Martinez and Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal to ban the private possession of sloths, kangaroos, and other wild animals once and for all."

In 2024, Hauppauge's Sloth Encounters store was ordered to shut down the business following a Suffolk County Supreme Court order. Sloth Encounters removed all sloths and animals from the store as of March 25, following an inspection. The animals were not seized by the town, a Town of Islip spokeswoman said.

Sloth Encounters has removed all sloths and other animals from its Hauppauge store following a Suffolk County Supreme Court order that shut down the business, the Town of Islip confirmed in 2024. Sloth Encounters was a business where people could pay $50 to pet, feed, and hold sloths.

The Humane Society said they conducted an undercover investigation into the business and found sloths kept in crowded conditions, fighting one another, and a staff member hitting a sloth.