Former explosives expert gets a charge out of helping dogs

My dog could fetch.

That seemed like a great talent to me, especially since my Labrador retriever — a 100-pound monster named Prince — was a vision of power and agility as he launched himself off the bank of a pond toward a stick.

What more could you want?

I guess I feel a bit different now after talking to Lakewood Ranch's John Scomillio.

When it comes to dogs, let's just say that Scomillio has higher expectations.

It was in 2004 when Scomillio decided to enter the world of dogs as a canine handler. Up until that time of his life, he was the smartest guy in the room when it come to explosives.

For 22 years, Scomillio was an explosive ordnance disposal diver with the U.S. Navy, eventually retiring to public service and quickly taking up with the New York Police Department's bomb squad. He had 600 square miles of waterfront to patrol that was a dumping ground for guns, explosives and other physical evidence, not to mention a final resting ground for many autos, boats and more than a few airplanes.

But in 2004, Scomillio decided to add a bomb dog to his team. This would allow him to continue to be the smartest guy in the room.

Think again.

Meet Kenny, Scomillio's new partner, an English black Labrador retriever who could sniff out explosives, no matter where they might be hiding. Scomillio looked at his new partner as somewhat of a tool to be pointed in the right direction. It didn't take long for Scomillio to find out that just wasn't going to work.

One of the key factors of pairing up with a dog is trust. When they first went out, Scomillio said when they got close to finding out the location of the explosives, he would kind of take over, as he was used to doing. But that would make Kenny shut down.

"I knew how good he was," Scomillio said. "But I would just flip a switch, trying to think for my dog. It doesn't work until you trust your dog. Emotions travel down the leash."

When Scomillio and Kenny became equal partners, everything clicked. They worked together eight years, and very likely saved some lives along the way.

"Getting a working dog, and understanding canine behavior was fascinating," Scomillio said. "Kenny was with me every minute of the day. I know it increased my patience and compassion. And Kenny got better with age. I always was trying to take him to higher levels.

"There was a case in the Bronx. a murder scene. He found explosives ... my dog found everything."

In 2015, Kenny died and Scomillio was heartbroken.

"It was one of the biggest losses I've ever suffered," he said.

Although Kenny was a working dog, he was like a family member.

"My wife (Terry Scomillio) loved him beyond belief," he said. "There was not one offending cell in Kenny's body."

By that time Kenny already had retired from service and Scomillio had moved forward to developing airport security for four New York City-area airports. His program had used one bomb-sniffing canine when he started, but he quickly expanded to eight dogs.

Meanwhile, Scomillio had been vacationing over the years in the Manatee/Sarasota counties area. When he decided to retire in 2020, he bought a home in the Bridgewater community.

But beaches and the quiet life were not quite enough to fill his days. Scomillio started looking for something more.

"I love dogs, animals and challenges," he said. 

He came upon Southeastern Guide Dogs, which since changed its name to Dogs Inc. He is working part-time for the nonprofit as a canine keeper who provides comprehensive care to the dogs. Canine Keepers oversee feeding times, manage the dogs’ play time, ensure that the dogs get the necessary exercise and mental stimulation, and support instructors as they work on campus with dogs in training.

It should be noted that Scomillio doesn't work strictly with dogs that end up working as bomb, weapons and arson detection dogs, but some dogs end up in that service. Many more dogs serve as guide dogs, service dogs and skilled companion dogs.

With more than 200 dogs on the Dogs Inc. Palmetto campus, Scomillio has plenty of opportunities to help out.

Dogs Inc. Media Relations Manager Lydia Baxter said the nonprofit always is looking for volunteers, and especially volunteers who have free time.

While Scomillio is not a volunteer, he certainly has talents that could take him in a lot of directions, but working at Dogs Inc. is one way he feels he can give back.

And it also gave Dogs Inc., and the dogs in general, a chance to give back to Scomillio for his years of service to the community.

Besides his regular interaction as an employee at Dogs Inc., Scomillio has just been awarded an emotional support dog from Dogs Inc., a 2-year-old service dog, a black Labrador, named Kelce. 

"He has a sense when you are down," Scomillio said. "He is very tuned in through your ups and downs."

But a guy like Scomillio, who has dealt with a lifetime of pressure and has come out on top, does he really need a support dog?

"I have been through a tremendous amount of accidents, incidents, and both World Trade Center bombings," Scomillio said. "Yes, I do. And dogs are such social creatures."

If Scomillio wants people to know something from his story, it's that dogs are so valuable, so loving, and they can't be replaced. Not even when it comes to finding explosives.

"Nothing can replace a dog," he said. "There are all kinds of mechanical detectors, but nothing compares to a dog."

He hopes others will check out Dogs Inc.

"This is such a great company that serves a wide variety of people in need. The dogs are given to the people who need them — for free.

"They really do magic here."