Holtsville, NY - May 2nd, 2014 - The Suffolk County SPCA, in cooperation with NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, and U.S. Fish & Wildlife and US Department of Agriculture will be hosting an Amnesty Day for illegally possessed, protected, endangered and threatened animals that require special state DEC and Fish & Wildlife Permits. Included are dangerous animals, exotics, illegal reptiles and amphibians.

Chief Roy Gross of the Suffolk SPCA said that the Amnesty Day is the first of its kind for unlawfully possessed mammals in Suffolk County.  The program will be held at the the Town of Brookhaven Holtsville Ecology Center, 249 Buckley Rd., Holtsville, NY on Saturday, May 10, 2014 from 11 am until 3 pm. 

"The purpose of this effort is to get these illegally possessed animals into a controlled environment where they can be cared for properly," Gross said. "People who are in possession of these animals unlawfully can turn them in to us without fear of prosecution. No one will be asked to give their name," said Chief Gross.

Trained handlers will be available to accept the unlicensed, exotic/illegal  mammals, reptiles, amphibians from the public.  People are asked  to bring the animals in containers which will be returned on a numbered basis. 

"There are many reasons a person may come to possess an unpermitted animal, but all too often it can lead to a dangerous situation for the owner or for the animal itself," said Peter A. Scully, State Department of Environmental Conservation Region 1 Director. "These amnesty days provide a way to anonymously turn in such animals to individuals with the resources and experience to properly care for them. DEC encourages anyone in possession of these animals take full advantage of this rare opportunity."

Non-Targeted Species: Species that do not require permits, and/or are not threatened, endangered or illegal will not be accepted.

Native Wildlife Will Not Be Accepted At This Event.

For More Information, Please Contact:
Suffolk County SPCA 631-382-7722
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation  631-444-0250
US Fish & Wildlife Services  516-825-3950