Ronnie Cretion Burrell, 46, of 2201 County Road 234 in Georgetown advertised in the classified ad section of a local newspaper soliciting customers in Killeen and Copperas Cove who would place their dogs for training as protective service dogs.
George Fox, 55, of Killeen an animal advocate and president of the Assisi Animal Refuge League, said he began reading the ads in October and knew something was wrong.
“He didn’t have his occupational license number listed in the ads,” Fox said. “Training dogs as protective service dogs - also called attack dogs - is very specific work and by state law requires specialized training and licensing.”
Fox said he checked all the papers in Central Texas and the solicitations were only being advertised in Killeen and Copperas Cove. Some of the ads asked for free dogs or horses and other ads promoted regular obedience training.
Fox said 10 to 12 ads ran per day in an advertising blitz he believed was aimed at the soldier population at a time the 4th Infantry Division was deploying.
“It’s a time pets traditionally get tossed,” Fox said.
Fox said he contacted the Department of Public Safety and they started an investigation.
Tom Vinger, a spokesman for DPS, confirmed that an investigation began Dec. 7 and concluded Dec. 21 with a warrant being issued for Burrell’s arrest.
A spokesman at the Williamson County Jail said Burrell was charged with two Class A misdemeanors for violation of Chapters 1702.102 and 1702.109-1 of the Texas Occupations Code. The law states the licensing requirements to conduct and advertise guard dog training, and a requirement for not having been convicted of a Class B misdemeanor or higher in the past.
Fox said he conducted his own followup and discovered that four dogs were at Burrell’s establishment and being fed by the neighbors.
“They said when food ran out they called the sheriff,” Fox said. “I’ve been told the sheriff had Burrell sign the dogs over to authorities.”
Linda Gunter, spokeswoman for the Williamson County Animal Control Shelter, confirmed the four were brought to the shelter and have since been adopted.
Fox said he has three concerns.
“The first is that it was the most ads I had ever seen asking for free animals,” Fox said. “That makes me nervous. What are they doing with them?”
He said the second was that the ads were targeting soldiers and, third, he did not know how the dogs were being treated to make a house pet an attack dog.
Fox said even when attack training is done legally it’s not a pretty sight.
“Imagine what you have to do to make a family house dog attack,” he said. “It’s bad enough that there are legal training services. But we sure don’t need the illegal ones.”
Fox said at the height of the advertising blitz he began spending $200 a month running classified ads of his own in the dog section.
“LOOK!!! DON’T GIVE AWAY OR BUY ANIMALS NEAR GEORGETOWN,” read the Fox ad.
His challenge inspired dueling ads.
“If any ad in this section asking not to donate any animals, please be insured that I’m a Professional trainer trying to help unwanted animals,” wrote Burrell in reply. “So please disregard any other false ads placed by someone who has never met me. Thank you. Pro Dog Trainer. Ronnie Burrell.”
Fox said that even though Burrell is in jail, a few ads still run every day.
“I guess he prepaid them,” Fox said.
Burrell maintains a Web site at ontherighttrackdogtraining.com for a company named On the Right Track Dog Obedience. It solicits free animals and offers obedience training and protective service training.
The animals that were taken from Burrell’s establishment have been adopted. Linda Gunter at the animal shelter said she took custody of a male Great Pyrenees mixed breed, a male mixed breed yellow Labrador retriever and a male mixed breed Belgian Malinois.
All three were adopted, she said. A fourth dog, a male mixed-breed golden retriever was placed with a rescue group and has also been adopted.
Three “were all gentle, family house pets,” she said. “I wouldn’t think protective service training would be appropriate for them.”
She said the Belgian Malinois is a breed used frequently by guard dog services, however.
“At least we have a happy ending to this story,” Ms. Gunter said.
