Kelly’s Pet Hotel Closes After Years of Battle With Authorities

County Department of Animal Control officials said Tuesday that Kelly’s Pet Hotel on Morena Boulevard is officially closed after years of battle between the kennel’s owner and city, county and state authorities.

The Animal Control Department has been trying to revoke Ruby Mae Brown’s license to operate a kennel for nearly five years, since her conviction on 20 counts of abusing and neglecting animals in the facility. Brown, 61, contested the revocation, but on Friday a hearing officer ruled in favor of the county, effectively revoking her license.

Animal Control Director Sally Hazzard said Tuesday that, to her knowledge, Brown stopped boarding other people’s pets last week, but more than 100 dogs belonging to Brown remained at the facility. Animal control officials will work with Brown to reduce the kennel population to six dogs, the maximum allowed a private citizen under law, Hazzard said.

Rejected Attorney’s Argument

In his ruling, hearing officer Stephen Temko rejected the argument made by Brown’s attorney, Fred Corbin, that the license could not be lifted on the basis of events that occurred five years ago. Animal control officials had acted to revoke Brown’s license after her 1984 conviction, but continued to allow her to operate the business while the conviction was being appealed. The conviction was upheld by an appeals court last August, and proceedings to revoke the kennel license were renewed.

Brown is also facing another case--a trial on 210 criminal charges of animal abuse and neglect is scheduled to begin Tuesday.

During a pretrial hearing Tuesday, a Municipal Court judge denied two motions brought by Brown.

Change of Venue Denied

Judge Robert C. Coates denied Brown’s motion for a change of venue and denied a motion to drop the charges because, Brown claimed, she was not brought to trial in a speedy manner.

Brown also asked to have evidence suppressed, but did not specify which evidence and failed to make a legal argument for that request, according to Deputy City Atty. Jim Bishop. Brown was given until Friday to file the additional information with the San Diego city attorney’s office, Bishop said.

The judge also found Brown in contempt of court during Tuesday’s proceedings because she kept raising the issue of the speedy-trial motion even after the judge had ruled on it, Bishop said. A contempt hearing will be held after completion of the trial.