Thursday, October 1, 2026
Outside the Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter in Wantagh on Aug. 11, Interim Supervisor John Ferretti raised concerns over a 17-year-old Facebook post attributed to his Democratic opponent, Joseph Scianablo.
According to Ferretti, on Dec. 27, 2008, Scianablo posted, “i just shat myself while watching animal porn.” Ferretti said the comment was offensive and inappropriate, especially from someone seeking to lead a town that runs one of the largest animal shelters on Long Island.
“As somebody who has fought for animal rights as a county legislator for the last eight years introducing legislation to protect animals, it's deeply disturbing that somebody who would want to run one of the largest animal shelters on Long Island would celebrate animal abuse,” Ferretti said.
Scianablo, standing across the street with supporters and animal rights advocates, said the post was made by his brother and called the controversy a distraction.
“We’re really sick and tired of career politicians spreading lies, disinformation, they’re really scraping the bottom of the barrel right here,” Scianablo said.
In an emailed statement from Scianablo's team, his brother, Jason, said he wrote the Facebook post as a juvenile joke after Joseph had returned from serving in combat as a U.S. Marine in Iraq.
"In 2008, I made a stupid, juvenile post on my brother’s Facebook as a joke," Scianablo's brother said in an emailed statement. "My brother had returned from serving in combat as a US Marine in Iraq. For months, our family lived with the fear that we might lose him. When he came home, the relief was overwhelming, and I slipped back into being the kid brother who teased him instead of the man who should have been thanking him."
Jason added that his brother went on to serve four years as an NYPD officer and was seriously injured in the line of duty while protecting victims of domestic violence. Jason said Joseph has risked his life many times for fellow Marines, New Yorkers, and strangers in danger, and that he has earned his roles through service and sacrifice.
A follow-up post made the same day in 2008 stated, “Just took my computer back from my brother Jason.” During the event, Ferretti questioned why the post remained online for 17 years.
Ferretti, of Levittown, was sworn in as interim supervisor after Don Clavin resigned on Aug. 5. He previously represented Levittown, Bethpage, North Massapequa and parts of Farmingdale as a Nassau County Legislator.
Scianablo, of Garden City, is a Marine veteran and former New York City police officer. The Nassau County Democratic Party says he brings leadership, integrity and compassion to the race.
Ferretti is calling for an apology. “It is sick. It is depraved. And Joe Scianablo needs to come clean with the residents of the town of Hempstead,” he said.
Scianablo disagrees. “He’s making this an issue, wasting taxpayer time and money,” he said. “There’s nothing there, it clearly dictates that.”
