Latest news with #DiLeonardo
New York Post
23-04-2025
- Business
- New York Post
NY Petco selling live chicks for $5.99 a pop in new ‘pilot program' amid egg price crisis
Petco has hatched a plan. Budget-conscious Long Islanders are flocking to the pet supply retailer's location in Commack, New York, which has started selling egg-laying female chicks as part of a 'pilot program' for those looking to procure their own eggs amid soaring costs. 'We actually sold through the first two batches,' a worker at the store told The Post, adding that a third shipment of about 25 female chicks sold for $5.99 a pop is expected to come in on Wednesday. Advertisement 'We're down to our last few.' 4 Nationwide pet retail chain Petco has launched a 'pilot program' in five stores to sell egg-laying female chicks year-round — including at one store on Veterans Memorial Highway in Commack, New York. Google The pilot program, which started in late March in five U.S. stores, serves as the retailer's first foray into selling chicks year-round beyond select rural locations. The birds of varying breeds are sourced from an Iowa hatchery, the store rep said. Advertisement A corporate representative did not disclose where the other stores are located, but the local worker confirmed Commack is the only participating store on Long Island to do so. However, local animal activists are calling fowl play, claiming that many of the birds are abandoned after being bought and before even laying eggs. 'First with COVID, and now with avian influenza, people are getting these animals because they think it's a cheaper way of getting eggs, but it's actually exactly the opposite,' John Di Leonardo, executive director of Humane Long Island told The Post, adding he's seen an uptick in surrendered and abandoned birds this spring due to interest in at-home egg production. 'Most people end up dumping them before they ever even lay a single egg,' he said. 'People don't really know what they're getting into.' Advertisement 4 John Di Leonardo, executive director of Humane Long Island. NEW YORK STATE HUMANE ASSOCIATION Di Leonardo, who has rescued about a dozen dumped chicks and many more roosters this year, reports the vast majority of the abandoned birds can't survive the elements for more than a day – and many others are provided hospice care when they are rescued 'because they're too far gone.' Properly caring for the birds is expensive, he said. An expert bird vet could run owners up to $1,000 or more for one visit, and the installation and maintenance of a proper coop could add thousands more to a bird lover's budget. 'For one of those cheap [coops] that you get at Tractor Supply for $100, a raccoon is going to break in immediately and kill your whole flock,' Di Leonardo noted. Advertisement Also, by law, people have to buy at least six chicks at a time, increasing the burden, the store confirmed. 4 A store rep at Petco's Commack location said business is booming, and the store is already expecting a third shipment. Houston Chronicle via Getty Images But while the worker claimed the chicks are coming in 'really healthy,' Di Leonardo questioned whether the Commack store has anyone on-site with the veterinary knowledge to make that assessment. 'They pick [the chicks] up at the post office like everyone else,' the activist argued. 'They're mailed without food or water, and many arrive dead.' 4 'Every year, I get calls from postal workers talking about how horrible these animals are created,' Di Leonardo added. 'They're just treated like parcels, and they're crushed and die.' AFP via Getty Images The new 'pilot program' also contradicts a pledge the pet store made last year to PETA in regards to its rabbit sales, vowing it would be 'recommitting to an adoption-only policy,' Di Leonardo said. 'Petco has really had a dismal record for years,' Colin Henstock, PETA's Associate Director of Project Strategy, told The Post. 'Petco sells a lot of small animals … and they all come from large, deplorable breeding mills. Humane Long Island and PETA are now planning a protest outside the Commack store to draw attention to the issue. Advertisement In the meantime, Di Leonardo only expects the number of abandoned birds to increase as a result of the bird flu – and more readily-available birds at local stores. 'Petco is a multi-million dollar company – I don't see how selling some animals … is really going to boost their sales in any significant way,' he said. 'They're going to survive with or without that, so it's particularly atrocious that they're doing it now.' Petco corporate officials did not return requests for comment.
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Town supports grieving family after BBQ damages bench
A town has come together to fix a memorial bench that was badly damaged after a portable barbecue was used on top of it. Richard Di Leonardo from Frome discovered the damage to his mother Lesley's memorial bench at Rodden Meadow in the centre of the town on Monday. After Mr Di Leonardo posted about it on Facebook, local carpenter Richard Chisnall offered to fix the bench, free of charge. "At the start of the day, we were very upset, but after all the people came forward with stories of my mum and to help, it was pretty heartwarming," Mr Di Leonardo said. More news stories for Somerset Listen to the latest news for Somerset "We had literally just put flowers on it for our first mothers day without her," Mr Di Leonardo explained. His mother died nine months ago from cancer. He said his family paid £1,000 to set the bench up according to his mother's wish. "The type of person my mother was, she was quite selfless and didn't ask for anything," Mr Di Leonardo said. "The only thing she wanted was a bench at Rodden Meadow, where she would always walk my sister's dog, it's somewhere for us all to go." A local carpenter, Richard Chisnall, came forward and offered to fix the bench for free. "I met Richard's dad on the meadow when he was installing the bench and he told me about his wife," Mr Chisnall said. "I used it many times, when I'm out with the dogs. I saw the damage and I didn't want them to have to look at it. "Frome has given me so much, I've got a good life and this is just my way of giving back." Mr Di Leonardo said it was "amazing" to see Mr Chisnall helping out. "Today, we're a bit calmer about it, it's a positive outcome, to see how many people came forward," he added. Follow BBC Somerset on Facebook and X. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. Man creates huge D-Day memorial outside home County cricket club holds memorial for super fan 'Proud' 10-year-old's Covid memorial is unveiled
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Cherished Brooklyn bakery closes its doors after 31 years
MARINE PARK, Brooklyn (PIX11) — Inside Michael's Pastry Shop in Marine Park, Brooklyn, staff members carefully smoothed the last layer of frosting on a cake—one of thousands made over the past three decades. This Sunday, the beloved bakery will shut its doors for good, marking the end of an era for loyal customers who have relied on its Italian pastries for birthdays, holidays, and everyday indulgences. More Local News Owner and Chef Salvatore DiLeonardo, one of the shop's three owners, reflected on the closure: 'It's been my whole life. We've been working for almost thirty-two years.' Known for its cannoli, rainbow cookies, and specialty cakes, Michael's has been a Marine Park staple since 1994. However, rising costs and unresolved building issues forced the difficult decision to close. Customers have flooded the shop in its final days, sharing memories and picking up last orders. One longtime patron remarked, 'It's very sad—the end of an era. Hopefully, he'll find his peace somewhere else, hopefully nearby. It's a neighborhood staple.' While the bakery's closure leaves a void, DiLeonardo isn't retiring just yet. 'I'm going to work across the street at the restaurant and then go from there,' he said. As the final hours wind down, a simple sign at the entrance captures the sentiment: 'Thank you for 31 wonderful years.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
