Dog warden suspended

February 05, 1998|By DON AINES

Dog warden suspended

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. - For the second time in less than two years, the state dog law enforcement warden for Franklin County has been suspended.

Denny Burns of Chambersburg was suspended without pay on Jan. 30, according to Chris Herr, deputy secretary of agriculture for regulatory programs. He said Thursday he could not discuss what complaint prompted the suspension.

"During this suspension, you are ordered to have no contact with any individuals or facilities under the licensure of the Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement," according to a copy of the order Herr read from his office in Harrisburg, Pa. He said that included kennels, animal shelters and humane societies.

Herr said Burns was suspended pending an investigation. He said there are other dog law wardens to serve the county during the suspension.

Burns did not return messages left at his home Thursday.

A warden since 1986, Burns was suspended by the bureau on Aug. 13, 1996, and reinstated on Feb. 18, 1997, according to Herr. Asked how the case was resolved, Herr said, "That was a union matter. A grievance was filed."

Herr said the suspension was without pay and Burns received no back pay when he was reinstated.

"We did not file a complaint as a board of directors or as an officer," John M. Sharpe Jr., president of the board for the Cumberland Valley Animal Shelter, said Thursday.

He said he talked to Burns and "he alleges this is because of a phone call made to one of his superiors."

Sharpe said he did not know the specifics of the complaint.

Betsy Camp, director of the Antietam Humane Society in Waynesboro, said she had no knowledge of any complaints against Burns.

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