Former owners feel betrayed in animal cruelty case

By Ben Penserga
Daily Times Staff Writer

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PARSONSBURG -- When Brenda Blocker-Robbins heard Savannah was found emaciated in a shallow grave, she said her heart broke twice.

Robbins felt pain for the Doberman Pinscher she had taken into her home. But she also felt betrayed by her friend Ronald Boles, whom she helped place the dog with.

"I still cry almost every day," she said.

But according to Wicomico County District Court documents, the dog was found in March buried about 1 foot into the ground on Long Ridge Road.

A necropsy -- similar to an autopsy -- was performed on the dog and showed Savannah was starved to death. Reports stated the dog "had indeed suffered for some time before dying."

By April 25, Boles 42, of Parsonsburg was served a criminal summons by the Wicomico County Sheriff's Office for three counts of animal cruelty.

'I sort of looked up to him'

Robbins first met Boles in 1996, when she let him adopt one of her puppies.

For Robbins, Boles had the perfect pedigree. He was a former Wicomico County Sheriff's deputy and K-9 trainer who was great with dogs and could tell a good story or two.

"To sit down with him, you would love him," she said.

Robbins also said Boles piqued her interest in dog training and helped her develop a greater appreciation of sporting dogs.

"I sort of looked up to him," she said.

In October 2002, Robbins helped Boles adopt Savannah from the Caroline County Humane Society.

"That dog just adored him," she said.

Until the last few months, animal lovers such as Robbins and Pat Long felt close to Boles, who had shown resilience by beating brain cancer in the 1990s.

"I felt bad for him," Robbins said. "He was a man down on his luck."

In 2001, when Pat Long met Boles, he was no longer a police officer but he was gaining a reputation as a good caretaker for dogs.

"Everyone told me he did a wonderful job," she said.

Over time, Boles befriended Long too. She said she lent a truck to him and they always talked about their love of dogs.

"He was like a little brother," Long said.

But not everyone cared for Boles.

"I didn't like him," said Sally Jones, who met Boles through Long.

Jones helped Boles adopt one of her dogs. But she said it was strange how Boles, a former K-9 handler, lacked rapport with her animals when they met in 2001.

"My dogs didn't like him," she said.

Soon, all three women started to notice the dogs given to Boles were never around. And they began to hear rumors about him, but nothing could ever be proved -- until authorities found Savannah.

"I can't describe in words how bizarre the whole situation turned," Long said.

Boles could not be reached for comment.

The next step

Boles is scheduled for an appearance in Wicomico County District Court on May 21.

Robbins said she hopes the death of Savannah and any other missing dog can be settled somehow.

"Everyone wants to see some justice done here," she said.

Robbins also said she hopes Boles can give authorities more information about the other dogs she gave him.

"I just want to ask him where my (dogs') bones are," she said.

Jones agreed.

"He's not going to stop unless we stop him," she said.

Long said she wants the case to become a cautionary tale for other people who might consider giving their pets away to strangers.

However, Robbins just regrets losing her relationship with Boles.

"It's one less friend I'll have in the world," she said.


Reach Ben Penserga at 410-749-7171, Ext. 306, or