Neighbors in Simi Debate Animals’ Fate

Though she did not attend the Simi Valley Planning Commission meeting Tuesday night, Fantasia’s presence was strongly felt.

More than 100 residents turned out at the meeting to debate whether the llama and a host of other barnyard animals should be allowed in their neighborhood. The debate continued late into the night.

“I fully believe everyone should have a right to own a llama,” said Greg Dames, who owns nine of the exotic animals. Dames said banning llamas would make his $300,000 property worthless to him.

But resident Dan Ney said that the proliferation of animals was more than he bargained for when he moved in to the Bridle Path neighborhood.

“I’m faced with, in broad terms, lions and tigers and bears,” Ney said, exaggerating his plight. “The people behind me have pigs. They have peacocks. If this passes, it’s going to devalue the property in the area.”

The fate of Fantasia and the other barnyard animals has monopolized many meetings and has raised questions about just what sort of animals should be allowed in city neighborhoods zoned only for horses and household pets.

For the past 15 months, Fantasia has lived with her owners, Mitch and Charmaine Pelter, in the neighborhood--the lone llama on the south side of the city.

Horses roam down a network of paths that replace sidewalks throughout the 640-home tract. In recent years a city-approved exception equated llamas with small ponies, and allowed them in the neighborhood as well.

The exception had also allowed llamas in other nearby communities, including Montgomery Ranch West, Fountainwood, Rancho Simi and Country Hills Lane.

“I would much prefer that my children have animals in their back yard instead of being on the streets with guns and shooting at each other,” Mitch Pelter told the commission Wednesday night.

Indeed, the special tie between children and animals was underscored by several speakers, including a half dozen 4-H members.

“Look at this through the eyes of a child, eyes that will be full of tears if I lose my pet,” said Nicole Guriel, 10, who is raising a Pygmy goat.

But some residents have complained that llamas spit, smell bad and frighten horses, and therefore should be barred.

The Planning Commission in December agreed to allow llamas, but that decision was struck down in February by the City Council, which sent the matter back to the community for further discussion.

Community groups then conducted at least four surveys, with mixed results.