Investigator: Feral Cat Drowning Claims at Sayville Catering Hall Untrue

Allegations that a Sayville restaurant and catering hall has been trapping and killing feral cats is “completely unfounded,” and "not true," according to a local organization charged with investigating such claims.

The Suffolk County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals investigated an anonymously made claim Monday that feral cats had been trapped and drowned at Land’s End in Sayville. A SPCA investigator, Dana Higbie, said the allegations were “unfounded” and “completely untrue.”

“Unfortunately people do not wait to get the facts before sharing such allegations,” Higbie told Patch in a phone interview Tuesday, adding that she has reached out to several animal rescue groups to share her findings as the allegations have gone viral in just one day due to Facebook postings and social networking.

Land’s End owner Gerard Scollan told Patch Tuesday the claims were completely untrue and that he has been supportive of community animal groups that take care of feral cats around his Brown’s River Road restaurant and catering hall.

“A woman comes down to feed them once a week and I’ve built homes for these cats,” he told Patch.

The allegations, which apparently hit Facebook and animal rescue sites Sunday, have already impacted Scollan’s business ventures.

“I’ve already had a wedding [at Land’s End] cancel because of these false claims and we’ve had to take down our Facebook pages for all our businesses due to postings regarding this,” Scollan told Patch.

“It’s just been insanity,” he added.

Scollan and a partner own Lovin’ Oven, an enterprise that owns 21 Main in Sayville, West Lake Catering in Patchogue, as well as other food establishments.