Wooster, Ohio – Critters Pet Shop, a local establishment, is at the center of an animal cruelty investigation following a raid on Friday. Law enforcement officials executed a search warrant at the pet shop, seizing over 1,000 small animals and potentially leading to animal cruelty charges for three individuals connected to the business.
Captain Doug Hunter of the Wayne County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that the case has been handed over to the Prosecutor’s Office for review. As of Tuesday afternoon, Prosecutor Dan Lutz stated his office had not yet received the official report.
The search warrant was executed at Critters Pet Shop, situated on Rohrer Road in Green Township. The pet shop, operating out of a converted four-car detached garage, housed a significantly larger number of animals than anticipated. Initially estimated at around 800, the count of seized animals, primarily guinea pigs, mice, and rats, climbed to approximately 1,000 by the weekend. This increase was partly due to some animals being pregnant, including a guinea pig that gave birth while being transported to the Wayne County Humane Society.
According to Captain Hunter, the animals were not confined to the point of immobility within their containers, which included plastic totes, cages, and aquariums. However, the conditions inside were far from ideal. Investigators reported a substantial accumulation of fecal matter and discovered several deceased animals within the enclosures. Captain Hunter described a disturbing scene where fresh bedding had been placed on top of layers of accumulated waste, creating an unsanitary environment for the animals.
The operation to execute the search warrant and remove the animals began at 2 p.m. on Friday and continued until midnight. Law enforcement officers removed approximately 150 containers holding the animals. Captain Hunter noted the difficulty in initially assessing the number of animals due to the conditions, stating, “At first, it was hard to detect the animals (inside the containers)… it appeared they had space to move, but the amount of debris and fecal matter created an unsanitary environment.”
The investigation was initiated after a call reporting suspected animal cruelty on Thursday. A county dog warden visited Critters Pet Shop and spoke with the owner in the retail area. Upon entering, the dog warden detected a strong ammonia odor, indicating a likely high concentration of animals in a back room. However, the owner denied access to the back room without a warrant.
Shortly after law enforcement returned with a search warrant, Captain Hunter reported that several individuals arrived with a horse trailer. While no large animals were observed on the property, this action raised suspicions that there might have been an attempt to relocate animals before authorities could return.
While Critters Pet Shop did house snakes in the front retail section of the store, investigators are unsure if these snakes were intended for feeding purposes. Authorities were informed by a woman associated with the business that Critters Pet Shop engaged in wholesale guinea pig sales, reportedly selling 20-30 animals per week.
Captain Hunter offered a perspective on the situation, stating, “The phrase ‘animal cruelty’ carries strong emotions … but I don’t believe there was ill-intent. However, rodents multiply rapidly,” suggesting that the owners may have become overwhelmed by the sheer number of animals and the demands of their care. He also noted that the pet shop owners voluntarily relinquished control of the animals to the Humane Society.
A veterinarian, Dr. Brian Wennerstrom, accompanied law enforcement to assess the animals’ condition. Additionally, a hazardous materials officer was present and detected “dangerous levels of ammonia” in the air within the pet shop.
Stuart Mykrantz, executive director of the Humane Society, confirmed that the agency provided immediate care for the seized animals, offering food and water on Friday and completing the intake process by Monday. He estimated that data entry was approximately 65 percent complete and anticipated that the animals would be available for adoption as early as the coming weekend. Those interested in adopting can contact the Wayne County Humane Society for more information.
According to its website, Critters Pet Shop has been in operation since 2000 and has been located on Rohrer Road since 2012. Prior to its Rohrer Road location, Critters Pet Shop operated in downtown Wooster on East Liberty Street. Captain Scott Rotolo of the Wooster Police Department stated that during its downtown operation, the police department had no reported issues with Critters Pet Shop or its owners, with previous police calls related to the business being initiated by the shop for incidents such as vandalism, theft, and attempted burglary.
The investigation into Critters Pet Shop remains ongoing, and the Prosecutor’s Office will determine whether to file formal animal cruelty charges against the individuals involved. The seized animals are currently under the care of the Wayne County Humane Society and will soon be seeking new homes through adoption.
