Breeder Agrees to Surrender 1,100 Chinchillas
R & R Chinchilla Inc. of Jenera, Ohio, agreed to hand over the animals to federal authorities after USDA inspectors found dead and medically neglected chinchillas.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Reptiles
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R & R Chinchilla Inc. agreed to surrender more than 1,100 chinchillas to federal authorities after USDA inspectors gained access on August 5, 2026, to a building withheld from inspection for years. Inspectors found multiple dead animals at the Jenera, Ohio, facility.
Why it matters
The case shows how long-undisclosed areas of a breeding operation can conceal serious animal welfare violations from regulators. It also marks a permanent loss of federal licensing for the breeder's owner under the Animal Welfare Act.
The breeder agreed to surrender more than 1,100 chinchillas, with about 800 kept in a structure withheld from inspection for years, and 800 previously turned over to welfare organizations. Chinchillas typically weigh 1 to 2 pounds, and the number of dead animals found on site was not specified.
The players
R & R Chinchilla Inc.
A chinchilla breeding operation based in Jenera, Ohio, in Hancock County, which agreed to surrender more than 1,100 animals.
James F. Ritterspach
The owner of R & R Chinchilla Inc. who agreed to permanently cease AWA-regulated activity and had his federal license revoked.
U.S. Department of Agriculture
The federal agency whose inspectors gained access to the withheld building and whose referral flagged the animals as in serious danger.
The details
Investigators documented animals with untreated medical conditions and excessive fecal accumulation during multiple inspections, and a warning was issued to the breeder in 2024. The Justice Department filed a complaint against R & R Chinchilla and owner James F. Ritterspach in August 2026, and Ritterspach agreed to a consent decree that permanently revokes his AWA license.
Timeline
2024: Warning issued to the breeder while investigation continued.
August 5, 2026: USDA inspectors gained access to the previously undisclosed building.
August 2026: Justice Department filed complaint against R & R Chinchilla and Ritterspach.
Legal Context
The case applies the Animal Welfare Act, the federal statute that requires licensing and inspection of chinchilla breeders and other animal dealers. Permanent revocation of Ritterspach's license through a consent decree shows how the USDA enforces the act when inspectors are denied access to parts of a facility.
Residents of Hancock County and Ohio buyers of chinchillas may find fewer animals available from this breeder going forward. Anyone considering adopting a chinchilla should verify the seller's federal AWA licensing and inspection history before purchase.
The takeaway
Checking a breeder's federal license status and inspection record before buying an exotic pet can help buyers avoid operations with documented welfare problems. Federal records are a practical starting point for that check.
Further reading
For more on animal care and exotic pets, see Reptiles.
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