More than 1,100 chinchillas surrendered by Ohio pet breeder after federal investigation
Sofia Patel is a community-focused journalist with a bachelorâs degree from Chatham University and over 6 years of experience reporting on neighborhoods in and around Pittsburgh. She has previously contributed to City Paper, where her in-depth profiles showcased the diverse voices and stories from various communities.
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An Ohio pet breeder is surrendering over 1,100 chinchillas after a federal investigation into "deeply troubling" conditions at the facility. The Department of Justice announced on Tuesday a consent decree with the owner of R R Chinchilla Inc. to surrender over 300 animals left at its breeding facility. The court order comes after the breeder already voluntarily surrendered more than 800 chinchillas to animal welfare organizations. After learning from the Department of Agriculture that the animals were in "serious danger," the Department of Justice filed a complaint against R R Chinchilla and its president, James Ritterspach, alleging failures to comply with the Animal Welfare Act on multiple occasions.An Ohio pet breeder is surrendering over 1,100 chinchillas after a federal investigation into "deeply troubling" conditions at the facility. (Photos: Department of Justice) According to the complaint, Ritterspach lied to USDA in