Ohio Chinchilla Breeder Ordered to Relinquish Over 1,100 Animals Following Animal Welfare Violations

The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio has endorsed a consent decree between the United States and R & R Chinchilla Inc., mandating the surrender of over 300 remaining chinchillas at the company’s breeding facility in Jenera, Ohio. This court order follows the voluntary surrender of approximately 800 additional chinchillas to animal welfare organizations under a previously modified temporary restraining order.

The Justice Department’s Energy and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) emphasized the legal obligations of federally licensed animal breeders to meet Congress’s standards for clean water, adequate food and housing, and sufficient veterinary care. Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson stated, “The heart of the Animal Welfare Act is to make sure animals are receiving good care, and that is what happened here.” He further noted the department’s commitment to enforcing the law and holding violators accountable.

U.S. Attorney David M. Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio underscored the importance of compliance with the Animal Welfare Act (AWA), warning that abuse, neglect, and unsanitary conditions are unacceptable. He praised USDA investigators for their role in securing the surrender of the animals involved.

USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) documented severe and prolonged violations at the R & R Chinchilla facility during multiple inspections. Deputy Administrator Bernadette Juarez described conditions including untreated medical issues, excessive fecal buildup, and the concealment of approximately 800 chinchillas in a second structure that had been withheld from inspection for years.

Following an official warning in 2024 and several enforcement actions—including two summary suspensions—USDA collaborated with the Department of Justice to advance the case. The court’s action facilitated the safe removal of about 800 chinchillas and led to the revocation of the facility’s Animal Welfare Act license.

The case originated after USDA referred concerns to the Justice Department regarding the welfare of roughly 1,100 chinchillas at R & R Chinchilla’s Hancock County facility. The company, operated by James F. Ritterspach, has bred chinchillas—small exotic pets known for their dense fur—for over 40 years.

Since September 2022, USDA conducted 18 inspections uncovering 59 violations of the AWA over four years. Inspectors observed Ritterspach forcibly removing a mat of hair from a chinchilla while holding it by the tail. The complaint also alleged that Ritterspach misrepresented the number of animals at the facility, claiming 300 to 450 when in fact about 800 were concealed in a separate building.

On August 5, 2024, USDA inspectors accessed the previously undisclosed building and found hundreds of chinchillas in dire conditions, including multiple deceased animals. The facility was described as the worst the inspectors had ever seen. Violations included animals with swollen, oozing eyes; hazardous ammonia levels causing inspectors to leave the building; and open rat poison packets stored adjacent to chinchilla enclosures.

In response, the ENRD and U.S. Attorney’s Office filed a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction motion on August 20. The court granted the temporary restraining order the following day and later issued a modified order requiring R & R Chinchilla and Ritterspach to surrender approximately 800 animals.

Under the consent decree, Ritterspach agreed to relinquish all remaining chinchillas and permanently cease any activities regulated under the Animal Welfare Act. He also entered into a separate consent decree with USDA, resulting in the permanent revocation of his AWA license.

Attorneys Kamela A. Caschette, Bonnie M. Ballard, and Davis A. Backer of ENRD’s Wildlife and Marine Resources Section, along with Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Rojas for the Northern District of Ohio, are prosecuting the matter.

The USDA encourages the public to report animal welfare violations through its website to help enforce compliance with federal standards.

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