The Saunders County Board of Supervisors has rejected a request from a rural resident who wanted to build a luxury shelter for pit bulls rescued from hurricane-stricken areas.

David Hibler, who owns three pit bulls, wanted to build on his property a $35,000 shelter for 24 animals.

But his neighbors, the county Planning Commission and now the Board of Supervisors prevailed against the idea.

About eight people spoke against the proposal at the packed board meeting Tuesday.

Board chairman Ken Kuncl said after the meeting that the board weighed heavily Hibler's past violations of animal ordinances.

"I think that some of the situations in the past indicate we probably would have had problems with the 24 pit bulls out there," Kuncl said.

The structure would have been enclosed and covered, Hibler has said, and would have had a second perimeter fence.

He was disappointed by the decision Tuesday.

"It would have been a positive thing to help suffering dogs on the one hand and a nation in need on the other," he said.