Paulding County pit bull rescue operation expansion under fire

PAULDING COUNTY, Ga. - Some concerned Paulding County residents are fighting a pit bull rescue organization's plans to expand its kennel facility

Jason Flatt is the founder of Friends to the Forlorn Pitbull Rescue Inc. The non-profit dog rescue and adoption operation is based in a rural community in Dallas.

Flatt wants to build a 30,000 square foot state of the art facility on 12 acres of land adjoining the current shelter to meet the demand for his services.

"There will be quarantine rooms. There will be a grooming station, a vet station, indoor play yards. There will be a therapy pool because a lot of the animals we take in are orthopedic cases hit by cars, injuries, dogs that need rehab work," Flatt told FOX 5's Deidra Dukes.

Flatt's plan is being met with opposition from area neighbors. Concerned residents say they are worried for their families’ safety and concerned about noise and traffic the kennel would generate. Neighbor Frank Bogdan lives up the road from Flatt's property.

Bogdan says, "I'm all for Jason Flatt, have been for the last five years, but I cannot support a 30,000 square foot commercial grade building 800 feet behind my house."

Flatt insists the dogs are never unattended and that all the fencing on and around his property has been reinforced with concrete, so the dogs can't dig under the fence.

Tuesday afternoon the Paulding County Planning Commission voted to recommend that the Board of Commissioners approve Flatts' request to rezone the property he wants to build on from residential to agricultural use.

No matter the outcome, Flatt vows his work will continue.