TEHACHAPI, Calif. -- A woman forced to move nearly 200 dogs out of a large Tehachapi home may ask for the permits to run her rescue operation near Bear Valley Springs.

Kimi Peck will meet with Kern County officials later this week. The property she's on now is the same place where alleged animal hoarder Cynthia Gudger was found one year ago.

Peck's dogs are now housed inside a warehouse-type building on the 24000 block of Bear Valley Road. They're in pens and runs separated by fencing.

"There's nothing personal about it any more," Peck said. "They don't feel they're in a home with us. They're making adjustments, they're sad, and I'm sad for them."

Peck said she has two nonprofits, and she uses volunteers and paid employees to take care of the animals.

Earlier this month, Peck moved the dogs out of a large, split-level house on Water Canyon Road outside of Tehachapi. County officials ordered her out, saying that violated zoning rules. She needed a conditional use permit if she wanted to keep them there.

Peck said she may try to get that permit in the new spot.

"We're thinking about going ahead and applying for a C.U.P," Peck said. "And if we become a business we could be an enormous asset to this community and to Kern County."

Peck will meet with county departments covering land use and code enforcement later this week.

From Kern County Engineering Services, director Chuck Lackey said Peck could be required to meet a number conditions.

"It could limit the number of animals, it could require some screening, limiting the days of operation that the public or employees can come to the site," Lackey said.

Lackey said Peck kept the dogs well cared for at the Tehachapi house, but neighbors complained about the noise. His department has already gotten some phone calls and one complaint about Peck's presence on Bear Valley Road.

"We received a complaint so our normal process is that we send a notice and order out," Lackey said.

Plus, there's already a complaint against the property.

"We have an active code compliance case on the property from the previous tenant that was there," Lackey said. "So the (new) operation will be looked at very carefully if they do go ahead for a permit there."

It was almost exactly a year ago that Gudger was found on the property with about 50 dogs and cats in what animal control officers called "filthy conditions." She was first arrested under the name "Anita Gilbert" and charged with animal cruelty charges.

Gudger later skipped bail on the case, but was later tracked down in the Los Angeles area. Gudger's case is on hold while she gets mental health treatment and evaluation.

Peck said her operation is not like Gudger's case.

"We take dogs out of shelters, rehabilitate them and look for wonderful homes," Peck said. "We're adopting them out. I don't know her, but from what I hear she did not adopt dogs out. In fact, she had cats."

Peck admitted she met Gudger a few times. The way she describes it, the connection between the two of them and the property on Bear Valley Road goes back several years.

Peck said in about 2006, she started to buy the Bear Valley Road property, but she was also buying the house on Water Canyon Drive at the same time. Peck said because of that her accountant, Susan Marlow, bought the property.

"That way it would stay in our nonprofit," Peck said.

Peck said at one point, Marlow suggested letting Gudger "camp out" in the warehouse because she was living out of her car with her cats. Peck said she told Marlow not to let Gudger stay in the house.

Peck said the property is now in default, and she may buy it back if she can keep her rescue operation there.

Getting the conditional use permit is process that can take several months. Kern County Planning Department director Ted James said it could cost $3,000 to $5,000.

Peck will have to outline exactly what she wants to do on the site, the planning department would then distribute information on that to neighbors around the property, and a public hearing would be held.

Peck said she wants conditions of her own.

"When I do apply for the C.U.P. we're going to ask that my personal home be respected and that that it is not part of our business, that's why I didn't get a C.U.P. at the other place."

From Engineering Services, Chuck Lackey said he's not sure what she means by that. There is a three-bedroom separate house on the property, and Peck said she plans to live there.

She also says she wants the flexibility under the C.U.P. to be allowed to take in animals if there are emergencies like natural disasters or if local groups like Tehachapi Humane have more animals than they can handle.

Peck also wants to offer services to the community like education, pet microchip clinics and free and low-cost spay and neuter clinics.

Peck says she is a rescue operation that tries to find homes for dogs and cares for some that can not be adopted. She wants to continue that -- and hopefully in the new location.

"We kind of promised them that they would live their lives out in a house, and that didn't work out. So now we're here and it will be a big change for all of us."