By Tony LaRussa

Published: Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Updated: Tuesday, October 2, 2012

A McKees Rocks company that handles animal control for scores of Allegheny County municipalities had its operating license suspended on Monday after failing inspections this summer, according to state officials.

A state dog warden inspected Triangle Pet Control Services Inc. on Aug. 7 and 17 and found violations including open floor drains that pose a danger to animals, “aged vomit and excrement” in the Robb Street facility and “issues with records not matching the animals,” said Samantha Krepps, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Agriculture, which regulates animal kennels.

Triangle contracts with 58 municipalities in the county to pick up stray and dangerous dogs, dead deer and other wildlife.

On Sept. 4, Triangle applied to renew its license but was denied by the state, Krepps said. On Sept. 13, the company filed an appeal.

“When the company filed the appeal, we had to suspend the license, which means they cannot acquire or board any dogs, they cannot euthanize them and they cannot sell them pending the outcome of a hearing scheduled for Dec. 4,” Krepps said.

Krepps said Triangle has 25 dogs at its kennel, including three that have been claimed by their owners and can be picked up.

The company's owner, Bernard Dudash, 73, of Kennedy, questioned the validity of the inspections.

“The same person has been inspecting us for the past five years and didn't find any problems in the past,” he said. “I'd like to work with the state to correct whatever they found, but they do not want to cooperate.”

Dudash said he will contact municipalities on Tuesday to inform them that the company will not be able to pick up dogs.

“I'll tell them that we can still pick up any wildlife or dead dear,” Dudash said. “As far as dogs are concerned,the municipalities will have to contact the state dog warden to have them picked up.”

Krepps said the decision to suspend Triangle's license is not related to a state police investigation alleging that between July 2007 and April 2011 Dudash fraudulently billed the state for nearly $37,400 for euthanizing hundreds of animals.

In January, Dudash was charged with felony counts of theft by deception and tampering with public records and information.

A nonjury trial is scheduled for Dec. 12 before Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Joseph K. Williams III, according to court records.

Tony LaRussa is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 412-320-7987 or tlarussa@tribweb.com.

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