By Patric Hedlund

Almost seven hours of testimony were heard about the merits and problems of the Lockwood Animal Rescue Center (LARC) at the Ventura County Planning Commission on Thursday, Nov. 14. It ended with the commissioners asking stiff questions, then granting a 10-year conditional use permit (CUP) to the facility, but with a requirement to return for another hearing in one year to confirm whether improvements have been made and conditions met.

In his own testimony, LARC co-founder Matthew Simmons admitted that he…

Photo captions:

Left, neighbors respond to testimony by Matthew Simmons and Lorin Lindner (above) about their wolf-dog rescue plans, saying none have escaped their facility. Neighbors disagree.

(l-r) Ventura County Planning Commissioners Stephen Onstot (appointed by Lockwood Valley’s County Supervisor Kathy Long) and Nora Aidukas of District 2 asked probing questions about the facility after listening to a day of comments in the 7-hour hearing for the wolf-dog rescue’s CUP.

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This is part of the November 22, 2013 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.

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