The woman behind the hit Animal Planet show "Pit Bulls and Parolees" went before the Kern County Planning Commission Thursday night.
Tia Torres tried to convince skeptics that Tehachapi is a perfect place to run her rescue operation. The meeting lasted nearly three hours, with both sides offering impassioned arguments about whether Torres should be welcome in Tehachapi.
Torres is a top pit bull trainer. Her rescue operation, Villalobos Rescue, is located just outside Los Angeles. But, Torres wants to move it to Kern County.
"We're here to help. We're here to give dogs chances. We don't discriminate," Torres told the commission.
Dozens of her supporters came to the meeting, wearing t-shirts that said "Racism is the Pits."
"This is a family that completely gives their life for the safety and well-being, not only of these animals, but the people around them," said one supporter.
"The Villalobos Rescue Center is just another in a long list that a few residents in Tehachapi target, to stop any kind of growth in this town," said another supporter.
But, the Kern County Planning Department said Torres' plans for the property would be detrimental to the health, safety and welfare of the public. Some Tehachapi residents agreed and said the center would be unsafe for the mountain community.
"We live, we vacation there because we love nature. We love solitude. We want to hear the coyotes. We don't want to hear barking dogs. We don't want TV crews!" said one Tehachapi resident.
"I have lived there for over 20 years and I have never felt threatened. However, with this shelter next door, I do feel threatened and I will not feel very secure," said another resident.
After three hours of hearing from both sides, the Planning Commission denied the project. All of the commissioners spoke highly of the project, but said they needed more information. Torres can now appeal to the County Board of Supervisors.