MEDIA RELEASE__The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio yesterday endorsed a consent decree entered between the United States and the owner of R & R Chinchilla Inc. to surrender over 300 remaining chinchillas at a breeding facility in Jenera, Ohio. The court order follows R & R Chinchilla’s voluntary surrender of roughly 800 additional chinchillas to animal welfare organizations pursuant to a modified temporary restraining order.

“Animal breeders and caretakers that are federally licensed have an obligation to comply with basic standards Congress established to provide clean water, adequate food and housing, and sufficient veterinary care to their animals,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Energy and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “We appreciate that the settlement agreement we reached in this matter has led to the safe relocation of all the animals involved. The heart of the Animal Welfare Act is to make sure animals are receiving good care, and that is what happened here. We highlight this case to show that we will enforce the law and hold violators accountable.” 

“Federally licensed pet breeders must adhere to the Animal Welfare Act. Animals cannot be abused, kept in dirty cages, and neglected so badly that they suffer or die. We will hold those violating these federal laws accountable,” said U.S. Attorney David M. Toepfer for the Northern District of Ohio. “We are thankful for the great work of the USDA investigators which has resulted in the surrender of the animals that were in the breeding facility involved in this matter.”

Continues at https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/ohio-pet-breeder-agrees-surrender-over-11...