Apr 21, 2009: Dog rescuer ordered to move animals
Tehachapi dog rescuer Kimi Peck must move 200 dogs out of her home on Water Canyon Road by 5 p.m. June 23 or the county of Kern will seize her animals.
Supervisors have ruled Peck is in violation of zoning law and fined her at a previous hearing.
She promised to leave or apply for a conditional use permit. But by Tuesday’s hearing she hadn’t.
Neighbors spoke out against Peck at the hearing, saying she doesn’t intend to leave and playing audio files of barking dogs.
Peck’s lawyer, Matthew Hess, said Peck will leave.
“If she is not wanted in the community, and is not able to work it out informally with her neighbors or this board, then she will leave,” he said.
But he fired a threat at the board if it imposed any further penalties against his client or seized any animals.
“I will take every step I can take to make sure that not one hair on the head of those animals are harmed,” Hess said. “She will be out by June 23rd, unconditionally.”
County Engineering and Survey Services Director Chuck Lackey fired back.
The board, he said, could take that promise at face value and then seize the dogs “by force” if Peck does not move out by her attorney’s timeline.
Supervisor Don Maben jumped on that idea, making a motion to seize the dogs if they are not gone by 5 p.m. June 23. The motion passed unanimously… More
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There are several sites associated with Kimi Peck listed below:
Mar 31, 2009: Neighbor files for restraining order against Tehachapi dog rescuer
A neighbor of a Tehachapi woman who lives with hundreds of dogs has filed for a temporary restraining order…
..Benedict cites “ongoing substantial emotional distress, both at home and at work, causing me to avoid going home out of fear, and fearing for my safety at work.”..
In early March supervisors fined Peck $5,000 and ordered her to get a conditional use permit after determining she was running an animal shelter out of her home.
Peck has not filed for the permit, noting she intended to move, Engineering and Survey Services Director Charles Lackey said…
…”(Peck) said her plan was to move in 3 months and her house was up for sale. She still owns the property as far as I know,” said Animal Control Director Guy Shaw. “I haven’t heard her say that she left, so I assume she is still here.”… More & Video
Mar 16, 2009: Peck, county agree on exit strategy
By: Tina Forde, Tehachapi News
“…Peck informed the county that she will be moving from the 23-acre property -– taking her 170 dogs with her — and does not intend to apply for a Conditional Use Permit for a dog kennel…
…Peck said she told James and Lackey that she had planned to leave the Water Canyon location “six months ago.”…
…The house where she lives with the dogs, she said, has depreciated from the $800,000 purchase price and that it is in foreclosure…
…Peck said she is in the process of adopting out a number of her current rescues….” More
Mar 3, 2009: Animal rescuer fined, ordered to get permit
“…Supervisors declared that Peck’s property is in violation of county zoning law.
They hit Peck with a $5,000 fine, but said they would delay an additional $500-a-day fine for more than 30 days if Peck agrees to start the process of getting a permit for her facility….
…Lackey pointed out a photo of the Tehachapi home is the main art element of the rescues’ Web site and that dogs offered for adoption on the site seem to be sitting in front of a fence on the property…. More
Mar 2, 2009: Woman with 200 dogs set for Supervisors hearing
“…A Tehachapi woman accused of running an illegal dog shelter is backing off a promise to euthanize all her dogs. Kimi Peck will defend her 200-pet lifestyle before county supervisors Tuesday…” More
Tehachapi Woman Houses Over 170 Dogs
”…On Friday, Peck said if her home is declared a public nussiance on Tuesday, on Wednesday her dogs will be euthanized.
“They will be humanely euthanized Wednesday morning, and I want the media there to watch. I want the media to show the citizens of Kern County and people of the United States of America what you can do to 200 innocent dogs,” Peck said…” More
