Shelter Accused of Keeping Too Many Chihuahuas

The little creatures snarl when they feel threatened. So do those who care for that curious breed of dog called the Chihuahua.

Accusations were flying Monday in Burbank as dog lovers debated whether the operator of a nonprofit shelter is “hoarding” unwanted Chihuahuas instead of finding new homes for them.

Former volunteers at Chihuahua Rescue were in Los Angeles Superior Court to demand that shelter founder Kimi Peck be ordered to put 275 Chihuahuas up for adoption. They say the dogs are being held in filthy conditions at her Moss Street shelter.

Their concerns were heightened when they learned that Peck, former daughter-in-law of the late actor Gregory Peck, shipped 100 of the Chihuahuas out of the jurisdiction of city prosecutors hours before the scheduled court hearing.

Peck, a film writer and producer, has operated her Chihuahua Rescue shelter in Burbank for two years.

The Brentwood resident and former wife of Stephen Peck launched the shelter with proceeds from her 1980 Tatum O’Neal comedy “Little Darlings” and says she has spent $10 million of her own money on animal rescue work.

Chihuahua Rescue has attracted support from such actors as Delta Burke and Mickey Rourke and has been the subject of positive coverage in People magazine (“Dog’s Best Friend,” read the headline) and TV’s “Inside Edition.”

Two years ago, Peck helped coordinate the release of about 200 abused and neglected Chihuahuas who were impounded and scheduled to be destroyed after being seized in a 2002 raid on a breeder’s home in Acton. Neighbors had complained that the Chihuahuas were being housed in unsanitary conditions. Authorities found that the dogs had formed feral fighting packs and deemed them unsuitable for placement.

“I hope this will set a precedent,” Peck said at the time. “We have proven that these dogs can be saved.”

But earlier this year, Burbank officials cited her for having insufficient food and water for her dogs, for failing to maintain sanitary and safe conditions for them and for not maintaining proper records of the animals.

In May, all of the charges except the record-keeping requirement were set aside as Peck agreed to relocate all of the animals and close the shelter by October.

About a dozen former volunteers turned out for a compliance hearing Monday. They hoped to ask Court Commissioner Kirkland Nyby to order Peck to place the Chihuahuas into responsible new homes as she closes up -- not simply move the dogs and their kennels away from Burbank.

But the hearing was a brief one after Peck’s lawyer told Nyby that Monday’s Chihuahua count totaled 88.

Nyby immediately continued proceedings until mid-August, when another progress report will be due.

Outside the courthouse, foes of Peck were unconvinced.

“Kimi Peck seems to be hoarding dogs rather than finding homes for them,” said Rene Barge, an attorney for the former volunteers. “They’re supposed to be adopting out dogs, not getting more and more and hoarding them.

“It would be a miracle for her to have adopted over 100 dogs within a week. This is frustrating for the volunteers who have fallen in love with those animals and seen the abuse and neglect.”

A handful of Peck’s supporters were also outside the courtroom. They denied she had done anything wrong.

“She’s not a hoarder. It’s very sad. People want to believe the worst of people,” said rescue volunteer Pamela Hall of Burbank.

Dave Mabra, a Burbank contractor, agreed: “She doesn’t abuse animals. It’s just the opposite. She’s saving animals that have been abused.”

A few blocks away in the industrial area near the Chihuahua Rescue headquarters, the smell of disinfectant was heavy in the air as Peck and other volunteers cleaned cages and played with snippy, yelping Chihuahuas.

“I think rescue attracts a lot of -- how can it say it without being sued? -- emotionally unstable people who are passionate about animals,” Peck said.

She blamed what she characterized as “this smear campaign” on a homeless former volunteer who sought to live for a time at the Chihuahua shelter. When asked to stop sleeping at the shelter, Peck said, the woman filed a complaint with the city noting that the shelter was housing about 40 more dogs than it was licensed for.

Peck said she was terrified that the city would raid the shelter following Monday’s court hearing and place the Chihuahuas in public pounds, where they might face destruction.

So “we moved 100 dogs last night. I called 10 of my close friends in rescue,” she said. “We were up all night saving them.”

The Chihuahuas will return, she said, but not for long.

“We’ve outgrown Burbank. There are too many dogs for this little place. I’m tired of rescuing. I’m retiring. I’m opening a sanctuary for dogs in retirement. Maybe in Northern California or Arizona.”

A din of high-pitched barking almost drowned out Peck as she tried to explain her devotion to the diminutive dogs.

“They can be pretty rotten. They’re quite stubborn. They’re too loud,” she said.

But she loves them anyway.