A police dog trainer who wants to build a kennel and training facility in Warren County withdrew part of that request last Thursday, Jan. 10.An attorney for Brian Dowdy, owner of Dowdy Dawgs, told the Warren County Commission during an appeal hearing Thursday that Dowdy is now only asking for a permit to build a kennel facility, and not asking for permission to train dogs there.Dowdy withdrew his request to provide K-9 training after an attorney for the county commission determined that the county had not handled Dowdy’s application correctly.Dowdy, a former Belleville, Ill. police officer, had applied for a conditional use permit (CUP) to use existing buildings at 16480 Ranch Road, north of Wright City, for his business. Nearby neighbors appealed the CUP, fearing the dogs would be a threat to their peace and safety.Warren County’s planning and zoning board initially approved the permit in August. The county’s attorney, Mark Vincent, said that approval included a mistake.Warren County’s zoning code requires the commission itself to approve permits for types of businesses or activities not explicitly mentioned in the zoning code, Vincent said. Dog training facilities are among the business types that would have to be directly approved by the commission.Because Dowdy’s CUP application was approved by the planning and zoning board, and not the county commission, Vincent recommended that the training portion of the request could not be upheld during the appeal. But a simple dog kennel and other parts of the operation could still be allowed.After a lengthy appeal hearing Jan. 10 with Dowdy and residents who live near the proposed facility, the commission decided to delay a final decision.Commissioners took up the discussion again Jan. 17, and identified a series of additional restrictions that could be added to the CUP. The commission will vote on a final decision Thursday, Jan. 24.Dowdy also could submit a new application in the future for police dog training to be allowed at the facility.

The site of a proposed kennel and training facility for police dogs in Warren County is shown in this aerial photo.

Submitted photo