South Huntington, NY: Every year, the Long Island Orchestrating for Nature (LION) organization recognizes community members or companies who show tremendous efforts and dedication to preserving wildlife and nature. South Huntington is the first school district to receive the prestigious Humane School District of the Year award for the year 2021 by John Di Leonardo, Founder and President...
South Huntington, NY: Every year, the Long Island Orchestrating for Nature (LION) organization recognizes community members or companies who show tremendous efforts and dedication to preserving wildlife and nature. South Huntington is the first school district to receive the prestigious Humane School District of the Year award for the year 2021 by John Di Leonardo, Founder and President...
By Juliana Di Leonardo New York City Fashion Week includes over 36,000 square feet of space, multiple runways, hundreds of vendor spaces, and a range of exciting events for people interested in leading fashion designers, entertainment, and production. This year, activists with PETA jumped on the runway alongside models with Coach with a message urging the company to drop the use of leather,...
By John Di Leonardo Last week, I urged readers to remember that animals are not merchandise, and now a new CDC investigation provides us with yet another reason to take this seriously. At least 26 people across 11 states have recently been infected in a salmonella outbreak linked to small turtles. Nine of the 26 patients were...
By John Di Leonardo My organization Humane Long Island recently conducted an investigation that resulted in the NYPD’s Animal Crimes Investigation Unit confiscating a wallaby, a caiman, and two pythons who were being exhibited for money on the Coney Island boardwalk. Wallabies are Australasian marsupials who are similar to, but smaller than, a kangaroo. Caimans are semiaquatic reptiles similar to alligators but with a heavily armored belly, native to tropical...
By Juliana Di Leonardo As our planet begins to experience more frequent and severe weather conditions, devastating fires, and extreme temperatures, it has become collectively obvious that something needs to be done to keep these tragic events at bay, but sometimes it can feel hopeless not knowing how to help. The first and simplest way...
By John Di Leonardo The New York State legislature recently passed a bill that will end wildlife killing contests, in which participants compete to kill the most, the heaviest and the smallest animals for cash and prizes. As I read about this bill, I couldn’t help but imagine what kind of monster takes pleasure in killing innocent...
By Juliana Di Leonardo As heavy rain pounded the pavement on Long Island Saturday night, I came upon the body of what appeared to be a pregnant, young mother in the middle of the road. Battered and bloody, she was the victim of a hit-and-run. I swerved but almost didn't stop. Like whoever hit her, I panicked, but my conscience didn't allow me to...
By John Di Leonardo In the latest chapter of Long Island's sloth saga, the Suffolk County Supreme Court has ruled SlothEncounters.com, LTD and its landlord 777 Chris's Way, LLC guilty of civil contempt of court, writing "It is the opinion of this Court that the location continues to be operated as a petting zoo under the...
