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.
Peck is a screenwriter by trade and was married to Gregory Peck's son.
She says has quite a script to deliver before supervisors Tuesday.
When she emerged from her home Monday afternoon to meet KGET's Kiyoshi Tomono, she was on the phone with her attorney.
Peck said she hired the lawyer because of what she called a smear campaign launched by neighbors and a powerful Los Angeles businessman working with Kern County leaders, including Supervisor Don Maben.
"We believe Don Maben has accepted political favors in exchange for harassing me and making a political example out of me," Peck said.
Maben was in a meeting in Lancaster Monday and not immediately able to comment.
Code Compliance Chief Chuck Lackey filed a public nuisance complaint against Peck, threatening to fine her $5,000 and up to $500 per day.
In turn, Peck said she would put the dogs down if things didn't go her way in the hearing Tuesday afternoon.
"I have been talked out of it,'' she said Monday. ''I felt I would be faced with the decision to have Kern County Animal Control come up here, pick them up and brutally kill them, which is what they are known for."
Peck doesn't deny her home is now an oversized dog house, but says this isn't a shelter. She said the aren't up for adoption because they are all hers.
"Why are we attacking and trying to kill approximately 200 well cared for, and well financed dogs?"
Peck compared herself to Angelina Jolie and Mia Farrow, saying no one has any problem with them adopting lots of kids because they're rich and can afford to take care of them.
