Company wants to put dog-training facility in Zuni
Published 10:52 pm Friday, November 21, 2008
ISLE OF WIGHT—The American K-9 Interdiction, a small company based in Carrollton that trains bomb- and drug-sniffing dogs, will meet with the Isle of Wight Planning Commission on Tuesday to discuss whether the company will be permitted to purchase approximately 32 acres of land for a new facility.
“We are anticipating a favorable vote for staying in Isle of Wight,” said Paul Roushia, the company’s president.
The land in question is at 5405 Hudson Lane in Zuni and the company is asking for a special use permit for the land.
The planning commission will make a decision and take its recommendation to the Board of Supervisors.
The American K-9 Interdiction trains bomb- and drug-sniffing dogs. The company’s application for the permit includes, according to information made public on the Isle of Wight County Web site, asking permission to store high explosives for use in the training of the dogs.
The application for the permit also anticipates accommodating 200 dogs on the property, as well as a 6,000-square-foot administration building, a 10,000-square-foot warehouse and a 24-room bunkhouse with a dining facility.
The company’s need to expand was the trigger for its push to relocate.
“We had been aggressively looking,” said Roushia.
The company identifies itself on its Web site as “service-disabled, veteran owned” and states that they “specialize in training K-9 handlers and dogs for police patrol work, narcotics detection, bomb detection, tracking and other specialty training.”
According to Roushia, the company is on the forefront of “growing international bomb dog market.”
Roushia believes the company’s move to Zuni will be an economic boon to the tiny locale.
“We are hoping to add between 30-50 jobs to the community,” Roushia said.
Apart from the addition of jobs, Roushia anticipates the relocation won’t disturb nearby residents.
“They won’t even know we are there,” said Roushia, expecting that the trees in the heavily wooded area will act as natural sound barrier.
“We intend to be good neighbors,” he said.
