Anderson Humane seeking homes for 17 chinchillas rescued from Ohio facility

Chinchillas rescued by Anderson Humane in South Elgin from an Ohio breeding facility need adoptive families, officials said.

Volunteers transported 17 of the furry animals from R&R Chinchilla Inc. in Jenera, Ohio, after federal authorities found the company was keeping them in poor conditions, according to Dean Daubert, Anderson’s CEO and president.

“Over multiple inspections, (USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service) inspectors documented deeply troubling conditions at this facility, including animals with untreated medical conditions, excessive fecal accumulation and the concealment of approximately 800 additional chinchillas in a second structure that had been withheld from inspection for years,” Deputy Administrator Bernadette Juarez said in a U.S. Department of Justice news release.

R&R Chinchilla voluntarily surrendered about 800 chinchillas to animal welfare organizations to comply with a modified temporary restraining order. On Monday, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio ordered the business to turn over the 300 remaining chinchillas at its facility.

Daubert said Anderson Humane found out about the chinchillas from PETA and agreed to shelter some of them.

“We’ve done other rescues in similar cases or from natural disaster situations involving dogs and cats, but these are the most exotic animals we’ve taken in like this, ones that require specialized care,” he said.

Those needs include large, vertical cages designed specifically for chinchillas and special dust for taking regular baths to maintain their coats, he said.

“Because they have such thick fur, it does not dry well. That’s why they use dust baths instead of water baths,” Daubert said. “And of course a wet chinchilla can be susceptible to the cold.”

That said, chinchillas handle cool weather well relative to other small animals, he said, and their preferred temperature range is 50 to 68 degrees Fahrenheit.

“Pet parents should keep a thermometer near their habitat. Even though they have thick fur, we don’t recommend keeping them outdoors. Also, maybe keep them away from drafts,” he said.

Chinchillas, native to the Andes in South America, are especially susceptible to heat. Temperatures above 80 can be dangerous to them, Daubert said.

“Avoid overheating in a room, avoid heat lamps, heating pads or hot water bottles unless a veterinarian has expressly told you to use one,” he said.

So far, Anderson has found foster homes for 11 of the 17, with the six others living at the South Elgin facility.

“Our team is happy to discuss chinchilla care requirements with anyone interested in fostering or adopting,” Daubert said.

Anderson Humane can be contacted at (847) 697-2880 or info@ahconnects.org.

Mike Danahey is a freelance reporter for The (Elgin) Courier-News.