Sloth store shut down after owner accused of animal abuse

Excuse the pun, but the sloth shutdown sure was SLOW.

After an excruciating 18 months, Long Island officials have finally shut down "Long Island's Joe Exotic" and his seven sloths.

For years, Larry Wallach had been keeping exotic animals, then charging $50 for 30-minute sessions where customers could pet, feed, and hang out with exotic South American sloths and other animals at his petting zoo, Sloth Encounters.

However, recently, allegations of animal abuse have severely tarnished Larry Wallach's reputation and business.

Wallach removed the store's signs and sloths during the first week of April after he was threatened with contempt of court for continuing to operate.

Larry is somebody who maybe shouldn't be trusted with these animals as he's already been linked to numerous crimes regarding them.

Just earlier this year, Wallach was connected to allegations of bear cub trafficking when a man in Florida caught with two Kodiak cubs claimed he had been training the animals for Larry.