Kimi Peck
keeps an unusually large number of pets, but cares
for them properly.
Animal hoarding
is not about animal sheltering, rescue, or sanctuary,
and should not be confused with these legitimate efforts
to help animals.
Comment From: sandcanyongal
Mon Nov 23, 2009
It appears that Kern's gestapo Animal Control team
is at it again. They won't be happy until they wear this kind woman down
until she leaves the County or they confiscate all of her rescues and kill
them. All of you that discarded your dogs and dumped them on her, pox on
you too. It's my opinion that Kern County is demonstrating public cruelty
to Kim Peck. She deserves assistance, not condemnation and this level of
publicity over her kind acts of rescuing animals no one else wants is unacceptable.
The County of Kern employees are public servants of the people, all people.
They have over stepped their purpose and role within the framework of limits
of power over the citizens, our rights, our land uses and our freedom to
live without daily harrassment from County personnel. It's my opinion they
have no right to ruin this woman. Either help her or leave her alone...
pretty please!
Horst Hoefinger
It could be said that Kimi Peck loves her 170 dogs
a bushel and a peck.
A love that is so great she has sacrificed everything
for them.
Her story started about 20 years ago, when she started rescuing [horses first and then] dogs that others thought were unlovable.
In an interview [recently] with Tehachapi News, Peck
said that
ten of the dogs — including two big white Pyrenees
and an Australian sheep dog —
are her own, and the rest are rescues [saved from
being killed at Animal Shelters].
Peck said that since 1994, she has rescued and adopted
out [more than] 5,000 dogs
[through her prior non-profit Chiwhawha Rescue kennel
in Burbank, California]
- but the ones she has [and cares for] now, nobody
wants.
They are old, they are disabled, they are aggressive
and some, she said, are just plain mean.
Peck is committed to taking care of these unloved
canines as long as they live.
“Nobody will take them,” Peck said.
“I love them and will take care of them for the rest
of their lives.”
The problem, her neighbors have complained about the barking, causing Kern County [officials] to take action.
This isn't a new scenario, the same thing happened in Burbank, CA causing Kimi to pack up her dogs [from her non-profit Chiwhawha Rescue licensed kennel] and move to rural Water Canyon [near Tehachapi in Kern County].
On Tuesday, March 3, 2009, the [silly] Kern County Board of Supervisors declared her in violation of county zoning law and imposed a $5,000 fine coupled with a $500-a-day fine, to be activated if she has not begun the process of obtaining a permit for her facility within 30 days [later if not out of her Water Canyon home by June 23, 2009].
Although all the dogs are personally licensed to her and there is no law in Kern County regulating the number of dogs she can have [as a resident at home], Peck will need to apply for a Conditional Use Permit to run a kennel [at her Water Canyon site].
To get such a permit, the neighbors have to agree.
The neighbors, annoyed by the barking that [they claim] ricochets through the rolling hills and who brought the complaint [a petition started up by neighborhood newcomer Steven Benedict] to the attention of the [Kern County] code compliance staff, are not likely to agree.
Which leaves Peck with about 170 dogs and nowhere to go [yet on June 14th Kimi thankfully did find a new place to go].
She said [only to cause a news sensation] a few days ago [back in March] that she would euthanize them if the Supervisors decided against her [and sent in Animal Control to take her dogs to the animal shelter to be killed].
That may be ultimately the only option [actually, no way!], but for now, she is applying for that conditional use permit [new info: Kimi Peck moved out - no kennel permit sought by Kimi from the silly Kern County officials].
She had given her word that she would do so [and as of now a mute point -- she moved].
She has a meeting with the county code compliance department Friday, March 6 in Bakersfield [where she told the silly officials she would move out and June 23rd later was set].
“It's going to cost $20,000 to stay here two more months,” she said. “No way will it [a permit] be approved [by upstart neighbor Steven Benedict and all the silly members of the Kern County Board of Supervisors, especially Don Maben]. They [the silly Kern officials] finally found a loophole in the law [claiming her Water Canyon home is not really a residence but an animal sanctuary for rescued dogs].”
After the [Kern County Board of Supervisor] hearing Tuesday she said, “I am sad and I am hurt and I am scared for our dogs” [and she was].
She [unsuccesfully] argued [to the Board members] that her property is not a kennel and therefore not in violation.
“Asking me to get a CUP [a Conditional Use Permit] is a ploy to get me, to get Kimi Peck out of Kern County.”
Nearby [recent] homeowner Steve Benedict [who started up a signature petition about her barking dogs] said, “She has made a very unfortunate and gross misjudgment about where to put her shelter.”
What a sad story. I can respect how her [now prior] neighbors feel, but her home is tucked into 23 oak-covered rural acres. Is it her fault the sound echoes? Her dogs are all licensed and well taken care of, she has regular veterinarian care, and spends over $4,000 a month to feed the dogs.
To me, Kimi Peck is an extraordinary woman, and instead
of getting recognition for all she has done she's getting penalized. Somehow,
it just doesn't seem fair.
A note from Friends of Kimi Peck:
Thank you Horst Hoefinger! You get it.
3/6/09 at 9:30 am Stacey
That is just horrible if she had a bunch of screaming
kids would they make her get rid of them? If she lives on 23 acres how
close could her neighbors be, sounds like they have nothing better to do
but complain to me. I hope she gets to stay and keep her dogs, I will be
writing a letter in her defense.
3/6/09 at 9:35 am Stacey
I just emailed the board of supervisors on her behalf
hopefully it works!
3/6/09 at 9:38 am Cathy Tibbits
Get a life and let this wonderful women continue her
unselfish work for these unwanted animals. I also rescue and keep animals
at my home. 4 dogs 2 cats and 3 ferrets.
3/6/09 at 10:36 am Imani's Mom
Unfortunately, this situation happens all too often
-- someone decides to do something proactive about the pet overpopulation
problem, someone who is able to give them appropriate care and take care
of all of their needs, and neighbors get all up in arms about it and demand
that the place be shut down or moved out of their neighborhood. I went
through the same thing when I started a no-kill cat shelter more than 10
years ago. Supporters are few and far between, but objectors are everywhere,
and they do not let up. I have even found that the worst of the objectors
think nothing of using the rescuer's services when they have a stray problem,
but still refuse to support the shelter being in their neighborhood. The
animals are always considered “someone else's problem.” It is just plain
sad.
3/6/09 at 1:14 pm Olga Diaz
Aw c'mon Kern County! give Miss Peck a break, she's
doing what's right!
3/6/09 at 5:11 pm Ziggy Moonbeam
We sent a letter, too. NIMBY (not in my backyard)
is what we call the attitude here in Eugene. It allows people to still
be politically correct but keeps them from looking at the problem directly.
It's a cowardly and stingy way to live life. I hope the supervisors in
Kern County do the right thing and not only let Kimi Peck stay but help
her support and care for the animals.
3/7/09 at 12:37 am Shelly C
This is just the icing on the cake for all the puppy
mill and back yard breeders ~ finally someone that pays out to take care
of her animals instead of being greedy and only taking in money and not
taking care of the animals and the one in the right is the one that has
NO OPTIONS ~ this is SICK ~ like the first comment ~ if she lived next
to a school and had to listen to a batch of screaming kids would they make
them close down the school ~ there has got to be a way to help this women…
what do they use for sound barriers on the fwys next to neighborhoods…
can they not put up sound barrier walls around her property???
I think it is very sad, to finally hear someone is
spending all her money to care for these old and disabled dogs and of course
the neighbors want her closed down ~ why is it when puppy mills and back
yard breeds are in the works you never hear neighbor complaining so they
get caught????
3/7/09 at 6:24 am Daniela Caride
I sent them a letter too. They should be thanking
her, not penalizing her.
3/7/09 at 10:27 am Horst Hoefinger
If you're not sure what to write here's an example…
To Whom It May Concern:
This is in regards to Kimi Peck, and the situation with her dogs. It seems to me she is being targeted unfairly and unjustly. She pays her taxes and has done everything within the law that she was supposed to concerning her dogs. How can one be held responsible because barking echoes?
As a dog lover, and voter, I hope that you take her situation into consideration and work something out.
This is a woman that has stepped in where others haven't, would it be better to have the dogs roaming loose?
Kimi Peck should get recognition for the lengths she
has gone to for those dogs, not get penalized.
3/7/09 at 11:30 am Linda Way
I also feel that she is doing what no one else wants
to do, and she should be applauded for her efforts, not harassed. The county
she lives in does not have a limit on how many dogs she can possess, and
they are all in good health and well taken care of, maybe her neighbors
should get some ear plugs, move, or start a no kill shelter.
3/7/09 at 9:59 pm Princess's Mom
This is so sad… With all the dogs out their that need
homes, finally someone steps pawward and gets stepped on for it! I don't
think I will ever understand people, It's easier to understand dogs! She's
on 23 acres for Pete's- sake! It's just another way for government to make
more money with all of those fees. How is she ever going to pay them? Don't
any of her neighbors have dogs? I bet many of them bark all day too. How
heartless of them. They should be supporting her, instead of condemning
her dogs. I too will send a letter of support.
Friends of Kimi Pecks note:
Misguided detractors of Kimi Peck just will not quit. It's likely they
will come up with new far-fetched attacks now that barking is no longer
an issue at her new Kern County location. Supervisor Don Maben and other
Kern County officials just plain have it out for Kimi Peck as well. For
one thing she's an easy target for powerful goverment administrators --
she's a woman.
We'll keep you posted on what's next on the KimiPeck.org site. Your words of encouragement mean a lot.
Our simple goal: a happy life for Kimi Peck's well
cared for rescued dogs.
The Kimi Peck Story • Copyright © 2010 KIMI PECK
Kern County Animal Control Reports
• KernCountyAnimals.org •