Breeder closes after chinchilla violations

Jenera, Ohio. A local chinchilla breeder has agreed to close its doors permanently after federal courts ordered the surrender of more than 1,100 animals. The decision follows a long investigation into how the facility cared for its residents.

The U.S. Department of Justice announced the consent decree on Tuesday. It requires R & R Chinchilla Inc. and its president, James F. Ritterspach, to hand over the remaining 300 chinchillas at the Hancock County facility. This adds to a previous group of nearly 800 animals that were voluntarily given to rescue groups under an earlier order. The total number of animals involved in the case exceeds 1,100.

Ritterspach and his company have bred chinchillas for more than 40 years. The animals weigh between one and two pounds and are known for their dense, soft fur. The federal complaint filed in August detailed 18 inspections conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture since September 2022. Those inspections recorded 59 violations over the previous four years.

The complaint describes specific failures in animal care. Inspectors saw Ritterspach remove a four by six inch mat of hair from a chinchilla while holding it by the tail. The company claimed it housed only 300 to 450 animals. However, investigators found roughly 800 additional chinchillas hidden in a separate, undisclosed building for years. This structure was used to avoid detection during standard visits.

On August 5, USDA inspectors entered that hidden building. They described the conditions as dire and among the worst they had ever seen. They found several dead animals inside. Other findings included chinchillas with swollen, oozing eyes and floors covered in fecal material. High ammonia levels forced inspectors out of the building at one point. They also found open packages of rat poison next to cages and one animal with a metal collar embedded in its neck.

Under the settlement, Ritterspach must stop all regulated animal operations and give up his Animal Welfare Act license. The Department of Justice encourages the public to report similar conditions on the USDA website. The facility in Jenera will no longer operate as a breeding site.

The case highlights the enforcement of federal standards for exotic pets. The permanent closure marks the end of a four decade operation in the region. All remaining animals are being transferred to new homes.