Brookhaven Town supervisor Dan Panico announced an independent investigation launch with Suffolk County district attorney Ray Tierney last week after allegations of severe animal neglect were revealed by former employees and two animal welfare groups regarding the Holtsville Ecology Center and zoo.
The allegations included improper food being given to the animals, enclosures not being cleaned properly, overgrown hooves, medical neglect and surgery being without anesthesia and performed by non-veterinarian personnel, said John Di Leonardo, president of Humane Long Island an animal advocacy organization. Di Leonardo is an anthrozoologist and founded the organization 12 years ago first concentrating on circus act animal cruelty. The organization rescues exotic and farm animals in need of help from Manhattan to the end of Long Island.
But there were three meetings with town officials well before the story hit the news and the press conference about the district attorney’s investigation…