A federal court in Ohio has approved a consent decree that requires a licensed breeder to surrender its remaining chinchillas and permanently end activities regulated by the Animal Welfare Act.
The order covers R & R Chinchilla Inc. and its president, James F. Ritterspach. More than 300 animals remained at the Jenera facility when the decree was endorsed. Roughly 800 others had already been transferred to animal-welfare organisations under a modified temporary restraining order, bringing the total number surrendered to more than 1,100.
The Justice Department sued in August after a Department of Agriculture referral. Its complaint alleged repeated failures to provide humane care, including untreated medical conditions, fecal accumulation and unsafe enclosures. It also alleged that about 800 animals had been kept in a separate building that was not disclosed to inspectors for years.
Those details were allegations when the case began. The consent decree resolves the civil proceeding without the court conducting a trial on every asserted violation. Separately, Ritterspach agreed to an order with the Department of Agriculture permanently revoking his Animal Welfare Act licence.
Federal inspectors had conducted 18 inspections since September 2022. The government said a temporary restraining order entered in August secured veterinary access and led to the first large transfer of animals. The final decree completes the removal and bars the defendants from resuming federally regulated activity.
The proceeding is United States v R & R Chinchilla Inc., No. 3:26-cv-01990, in the Northern District of Ohio. The Justice Department’s official case announcement is available here.
