Crime & Safety

Coraopolis Kennel Owner Accused in Reimbursement Scheme

State police say owner of kennel in McKees Rocks overcharged the state by seeking reimbursement for housing and putting down stray dogs that didn't exist.

State police have charged a Coraopolis man with theft and tampering with public records, saying he overcharged the state by more than $37,000 for housing and destroying stray dogs at his kennel in McKees Rocks.

Berard Dudash, of Mary Street, is charged with overcharging the state Department of Agriculture for dog-handling services between July 2007 and April at Triangle Pet Services. State police said Triangle Pet Control Services picked up, housed and sometimes destroyed dogs picked up in numerous municipalities around Western Pennsylvania.

Triangle billed municipalities for every dog it handled and put down. Those municipalities, in turn, sought and obtained $30 per dog in reimbursement from the Department of Agriculture, according to state police.

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Investigators have accused Triangle of falsely reporting the number of dogs it handled and obtaining $37,384 in reimbursement for handling dogs that did not exist. State police said Dudash was aware of the overbilling during that period.

He was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Mary Ann Cercone of McKees Rocks.

Find out what's happening in Robinson-Moonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

 


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