A woman who lives with more than 200 dogs at her Tehachapi home says she is trying to give up the majority of the animals. Kimi Peck faces a foreclosure-related auction on her home early next month.
Peck says she has big plans for a warehouse packed with dogs. "Today we had some groups from L.A. and we had the Humane Society come out and we are coordinating a plan." A plan, she says, that would see 150 of the dogs taken to rescue or adopted. "A lot of them have been so severely abused they are beyond connection with me. They will be fine without me."
But she says she'll keep about 50 dogs, like some chihuahuas, that live with her in her bedroom. "The ones that I am keeping I have rehabilitated. They have total trust for me, and there is no way I could say ha ha, now I am going to dump you." Peck said just before we arrived she visited with representatives from the Amanda Foundation and the Humane Society, but they left when they saw reporters arrive.
Peck also visited with Carole Davis, the West Coast Director of the Companion Animal Protection Society, who says she will work to put out a call for help. "I think there were a large number of dogs there that are adoptable," said Davis. "I am asking rescue organizations, large rescue organizations to come forward to help, to do what they are good at doing."
Now that the home is set to be auctioned off, Peck says she's at the end of the road. She says she's fought for years to keep the dogs but the fight is over. "It's not good for the dogs. I want what's best for the dogs. And when I cease to be what's best for the dogs, that's when I say bye, bye."
Peck's critics who worked with her at a shelter in Burbank say they've heard that before and they'll believe it when they see it. "I've paid my dues," said Peck. "I've loved these dogs and brought them as far as I can and it's over."
The house is set to be auctioned on December 2nd.
