Rescue Efforts for Abandoned Animals on Long Island
John De Leonardo recently experienced a dramatic moment when a Long Island bull, which had evaded capture for two months, was finally found in Suffolk County. It was quite a startling call.
“We were on the phone with the police, and they said, ‘We’re going to shoot him,’” De Leonardo, who leads Humanitarian Island and specializes in animal studies, shared. “I shouted, ‘No, don’t! I’ll find a sanctuary! I’ll be there!’ Luckily, they were willing to listen, so they just surrounded him instead of taking that shot.”
The bull, now dubbed “Joel Bully,” was named in honor of another notable Long Islander who found peace in New Jersey. This incident is just one of many wild experiences that De Leonardo has encountered. He’s incredibly dedicated to protecting all kinds of animals, from Manhattan to Montauk.
“We rescue roughly 1,200 animals each year,” De Leonardo explained at a humane facility dedicated to feeding animals on Long Island. “Sometimes we get just a few, but other times it can be as many as 200 animals in one week.” He’s faced many challenges, including dealing with other bulls during his work.
De Leonardo’s mission primarily involves assisting animals that have been abandoned or rescued from dire situations across Long Island and parts of New York City. For instance, he once saved a small kangaroo named “Jackie Leg,” which was found on Coney Island’s Boardwalk in 2023.
“We received a report that he was being exploited at Madison Square Park, where someone was charging people for photos with him,” he said.
Eventually, collaborating with the NYPD’s Animal Cruelty Unit, De Leonardo set up a covert operation to help rescue Jackie Leg. A volunteer pretended to be a marsupial handler while another individual, Michael Gibbons, acted as a spy, which ultimately resulted in their rescue.
“She spent a few hours with him, and while the authorities were present, she was able to confiscate the wallabies. Now, Jackie lives in a sanctuary, in a much more natural environment,” he added.
In another instance last year, rescuers had to help with the care of South African ostriches, sometimes referred to as fewer rares. “One was about five months old and nearly as tall as me,” he recalled. “I can only imagine how scared it must have felt surrounded by unfamiliar and possibly dangerous creatures.”
There have been numerous cases of abandoned animals in Suffolk County recently. De Leonardo noted that it seems to be a troubling trend, particularly following criticisms leveled at local facilities for neglecting their animals.
“We had over 160 birds from one facility,” he indicated. There’s also the ongoing effort to care for abandoned ducks rescued from various locations across the county.
On another occasion, he managed to negotiate the release of animals from a slaughterhouse, intriguingly trading vegan food for their freedom.
In a recent act of rescue, De Leonardo freed a rare orange lobster discovered in a tank at a local grocery store, which they were keen to release.
De Leonardo, alongside his wife, Juliana, strives to create a soothing environment for the animals in their care.
He has previously worked with individuals with special needs and believes that animals are one of the most mistreated groups globally.
“That’s one aspect of the job I truly enjoy—seeing these rescues at events like Riverhead’s gala. It’s remarkable; they often don’t realize that human affection can be positive. At first, they can be terrified,” he reflected. “But after a few days or weeks, many of them grow to trust us, often becoming quite social and eager for attention.”
