The website focuses on EVERYTHING pertaining to Chihuahuas and in August of 2010, they did a great story profiling ‘Pathological Dog Hoarder’, Kimi Peck…Please read their story – THANK YOU!

http://www.paghat.com/empireofthechihuahua/true-kimipeck3.html Kimi Peck Update: Pathological dog hoarder Kimi Peck has moved frequently in order to keep hoarding chihuahuas and other dogs and animals after interventions in one city, town, or county after another, having had seven illegal kennels shut down by 2005, but still kept at it. Most recently doing her hoarding in Tehachapi, California, she’s back in the news in the mid-2010 when the Humane Society of Kern County rescued from her clutches 180 dogs, eighteen cats, ten chickens and several rabbits from her overcrowded property which she calls a Chihuahua Rescue. She had done her research and her move to Tehachapi was specifically because animal control laws in this place are absurdly lax, permiting anyone to have as many pets as they want. But there was a rub. She would have to take care of them properly, too. By a truly curious coincidence, her new residence was formerly occupied by animal hoarder Cynthia Gudger before she was arrested and ordered into mental health treatment. In February of 2009, code compliance officers began to move against her, and Peck began her usual attempt to manipulate the media into reporting that bad people enforcing bad codes were trying to destroy the lives of 200 animials for whom she and she alone was savior. By March her home was declared a public nuisance and she was fined $5,500, and she set out to relocate hundreds of animals. But since it was her code violations and not the animals themselves pursued, animals were not as yet being rescued from the faux rescuer. Though Peck lacked facilities to care for so many animals, she has long been incapable of controlling herself, and by January 2010 she had 150 dogs on the premises while threatening to sue everyone in sight if they tried to stop her activities. She continued her years-long on-line campaigns against her "persecutors" who had become numerous. She begged for money, and over the years is believed to have garnered $600,000 for her illegal kennel. She begged for volunteers to help with feeding, watering, and cleaning up, which meant once a week her home had the dog turds and urine cleaned off the floor, though most of the time she simply personally lived with feces and chihuahuas all over the house, as it appeared she cleaned up nothing unless volunteers arrived to do so. By December 2009 her home was in forclosure. She was delinquent on licenses for 204 of her dogs. She was facing up to $200,000 in fines and ten years in prison. Animal Control slapped her with 200 misdemeanor citations. Soon she would be evading court dates and got herself arrested, released from jail under a stiff bail bond. Then, rather inexplicably but with faint promise for a brighter future for Kimi as well as dogs subjected to her obsession, after six months of her usual paranoic insistance that everyone’s out to destroy her animals, she suddenly, and for the first time, stopped making excuses for herself! For the first time she contacted authorities for help, rather than waiting for them once more to descend upon her unbidden. In the photo in-text above, Kimi is shown signing over her animals to Animal Control. But bare in mind, animal hoarding is not a behavior that easily changes without persistent outpatient treatment which Kimi was not about to obtain. Adam Parascandola, director of Animal Cruelty for The HSUS, said "We are grateful that the owner reached out to us to ask for assistance, and has been cooperative throughout the rescue process. Today marks the beginning of a new life for these animals." It didn’t happen until after her house was forclosed and she was served eviction notice, but it happened. And for the many people who’ve watched Kimi’s crazed behavior along the years, jaws must be dropping to the floor. She claimed she has even, for the first time, removed from her webpage the pleas for "donations" to keep rescuing dogs, and has said out loud, "I won’t be rescuing any more dogs." In reality not all the many webpages "supporting" her and villaining actual dog rescuers for getting in her way have not been updated or changed. Still, perhaps this means, incredibly, after years of changeless behavior even under pressure, Kimi really is beginning a new healthier life as well. I wish her the best in that regard, but without outpatient treatment from a good mental health facility, I expect we’ll hear from her again, sooner than later. Already, out "begging" again for a free car to pull the little trailer she had to move into, she has six dogs living in the tiny wheeled home with her. So pardon my dubiouisness about her miraculous recovery, but II think she already has more dogs than is reasonable for a shed-sized residence, and eventually we will be hearing of her antics anew.

Susan Marlowe cannot operate a kennel in Kern County. Her application for a CUP was denied by 4 out of the 5 Board of Supervisors. Justice for the ANIMALS and the people of Kern County! FINALLY

Supervisors deny permit for kennel Californian staff writer | Tuesday, Nov 09 2010 04:59 PM Last Updated Tuesday, Nov 09 2010 04:59 PM By JAMES BURGER jburger@bakersfield.com Kern County supervisors on Tuesday killed a proposed kennel permit for notorious property on Bear Mountain Road that once harbored controversial animal rescuer Kimi Peck and, before her, convicted animal abuser Cynthia Gudger. Both women had housed animals on the property in violation of county land use laws. Property owner Susan Marlowe finally requested county approval to house a kennel on the property. Kern County planning commissioners approved the request for a one-year period, to give the county a chance to see if Marlowe operates appropriately. And one supervisor wanted to give her the chance. But neighbors and Tehachapi community leaders appealed the approval to the Board of Supervisors. And the four other supervisors sided with them. "We have a great concern about what has happened here in the past," said Janice Hagen Armstrong. "We do not think this woman will change. "We urge you to look beyond the planning thing." The "planning thing," said Kern County Planning Director Lorelei Oviatt, is a restriction on the facts supervisors can use to justify denying the project. County lawyer Bruce Divelbiss said the county must only look at land use issues, not the applicant’s character or history, in judging whether a permit is appropriate. But Bea Saldana of Stallion Springs said the conditional use permit should be denied on the history of the project alone. "We are here to protect the animals," she said. Marlowe promised supervisors she would follow the rules if they allowed her to set up the kennel. "I just hope that all the other speakers, who have spoken so highly of me, will continue to volunteer their time at the local animal shelter," he said. Supervisor Don Maben said he was willing to give Marlowe a shot at success and made a motion to deny the appeal and grant her the permit for 36 months. "Ms. Marlowe has certainly taken her time applying for this conditional use permit," Maben said. "But I believe everybody deserves at least one chance to straighten up and fly right." None of the other four supervisors supported Maben’s motion and it died. Supervisor Jon McQuiston then made a motion to uphold the appeal and deny the permit. That motion was approved 4-1 with Maben opposed.

Not surprising – many Tehachapi folks do NOT want a CUP issued to Susan Marlowe and/or animal hoarder, Kimi Peck. Here is a story in regards to this issue…

Organizations protest county approval of kennel Organizations protest county approval of kennel By: Tina Forde, Reporter, Tehachapi News Posted by editor Monday, November 1, 2010 – 11:28 Viewed 370 times 2 comments larger view Two organizations and four neighbors are appealing the Kern County Planning Commission’s approval of a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) for a kennel at the home belonging to Susan Marlowe on Bear Valley Road. One of the conditions of the CUP is that no more than 25 animals (“dogs, cats, rabbits and all fur-bearing animals) may be kept on the property. The property has been home to several hundred dogs in recent years. One of the residents was Kimi Peck, who gave up 152 of her dogs to the Kern County Animal Control in July when Marlowe was in the process of evicting her. Peck is no longer living on the property. In strongly worded letters, the organizations Smart Growth-Tehachapi Valleys, the Cummings Valley Protective Association and neighbors at three residences on Bear Valley Road had urged county planners to deny the permit. They subsequently have appealed the Planning Commission’s Aug. 12 approval of the CUP and are asking the Kern County Board of Supervisors to override the decision. The matter was scheduled to come before the supervisors Oct. 12 but Marlowe cited scheduling conflicts that prevented her from appearing. The appeal was continued to the Nov. 9 supervisor meeting. Marlowe, who is an accountant located in Los Angeles, said she plans to appear at the Nov. 9 hearing. She followed through with the CUP application even though she may not use it. “There is nobody living there and I don’t have any plans for it,” Marlowe said. She said the CUP would give her more options as to what she can do with the property. Conditions In granting the permit, the county planning staff report stated that under California Environmental Quality Act, “there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment,” and that no CEQA evaluation was necessary. In addition to the limit of 25 dogs, cats and fur-bearing animals, the county required that all necessary permits and licenses be obtained; that dog pens and cages be maintained in a clean condition and cleaned daily; that adoptions not be conducted on the site; that animals not be boarded there; that “the applicant’s or animal caregiver’s website shall be modified to be consistent with the terms of this permit;” that current license and rabies vaccination be maintained for all dogs; that all animals be properly cared for and not left unattended for “periods greater than 18 hours;” and that waste be disposed of off site a minimum of once per week. Planners also stated, “the proposed use is consistent with the goals and policies of the Kern County General Plan or Specific Plan.” In granting approval, the staff also concluded that approval of the request “is consistent with the provisions of the Zoning Ordinance and consistent with the goals and policies of the North Cummings Valley Specific Plan…” The county granted the permit for a temporary period of two years from the date of approval “to allow the applicant to demonstrate compliance with county departments.” Protests Peck, the most recent tenant, kept her dogs in a 4,000-square-foot metal building several hundred feet from the main house on the 20-acre property. Objections to the CUP focus on barking noise, smell and zoning non-compliance that would discourage visitors from the wine grape-growing region. “The use of this property should remain agricultural,” wrote Janice Hagen Armstrong, president of Smart Growth-Tehachapi Valleys. JoAnne Huckins, president of the Cummings Valley Protective Association, was doubtful the conditions laid out by the county would do the job. “Any conditions attached to the CUP would likely be meaningless in that County Code Compliance apparently does not have the ability (especially with recent staff cuts) to enforce compliance with conditions,” she wrote in a July 25 letter to the county prior to the approval. Neighbors Mac and Rozelva Ruddle wrote that the dogs that have been there create issues that “are invading on our ability and right to the quiet enjoyment of our property and thus, our lives. We retired up here for a reason, to enjoy the optical and audible serene views of the natural environment. Allowing a kennel would violate our continued expectations and enjoyment of our property.” Granting a CUP to the property owner, according to a website that tracks the activities of Marlowe and Peck, “is a dangerous proposition.” “The whole thing is a train wreck,” said Chuck Boles of the Cummings Valley Protective Association. “Zoning is our primary concern, mistreatment of animals and flaunting of laws.” It’s OK Peck says she has 18 dogs now. “My life is so different,” said Peck, who would not reveal her location. “I have a life. I was overwhelmed. “It took a while to adjust. Now I