Carmel Valley residents push back on Peace of Mind Dog Rescue’s plan to house dogs.

The idea for a “senior dog haven” came about 25 years ago, nearly 10 years before Peace of Mind Dog Rescue was founded. The nonprofit was born in 2009 with the mission of helping older folks who can no longer care for their dogs by finding new homes for the animals.

Over the last few years, POMDR co-founder Carie Broecker, driven by two donors (one of whom has since died), got serious about realizing this senior dog haven dream project. She hired a land-use attorney to search for potential locations to host up to 20 senior dogs in a home-like setting. Specifically, they were looking for a property that fit the bill: It needed proper zoning, accessibility to POMDR’s network of volunteers and foster parents, and a large courtyard.

In May, they found their spot at 8 El Caminito Road in Carmel Valley, a mixed-use building which was once Magic Circle Theatre.

Shortly thereafter, neighbors began to push back, writing to County of Monterey officials citing concerns over noise, traffic, parking and wastewater.

“Somehow people found out about the project before the planners sent out a letter,” Broecker says. “It was a little surprising that people started to get upset about it before they had all of the information, before we had a chance to have the public hearing.”

The building, currently in escrow, is set to close pending county approval on the remaining permits. Broecker says they have since conducted an acoustic study and traffic report, and submitted water reports. She has gone door-to-door with POMDR board members to explain their plans to the neighbors and update them on the process – she says some have been understanding, others firm in concerns about potential noise.

No hearing date has been set for the project since the application is still in progress, according to Kayla Nelson with the Monterey County Planning Department.

One challenge has been describing a concept that is new to most people. Many imagine the space as a kennel, where the dogs will be kept in cages. Broecker explains that the space will be cage-free, and more of a sanctuary, with staff and volunteers present around the clock ensuring the animals’ needs are met.

“Typically, dogs bark because they haven’t exercised enough, they haven’t had enrichment – things that keep them happy,” she says. “We have a lot of resources to make sure that isn’t an issue.”