Ashley Merz, owner of an English bulldog named Bruce, became emotional during a protest Wednesday outside Camp Canine, the Santa Barbara doggy daycare where her pet allegedly drowned on Sunday. The gathering, attended by dozens of community members, aimed to honor Bruce and seek accountability from the facility.
Protesters carried signs that read "#JusticeforBruce" and advocated for "transparency, accountability and the safety of all dogs." Organizers requested that attendees not bring their own pets due to anticipated heat and crowd size.
Bruce's family stated that upon arriving to pick him up, they were informed of his death by drowning in one of the facility's pools. They reported that they were not notified prior to their arrival and were shown Bruce's body in a plastic tub. According to the family, Bruce was in the large-dog area, which contains two unfenced pools, despite employees allegedly acknowledging he should not have been in that section.
Bruce had been attending training at Camp Canine for approximately six months. The Santa Barbara Police Department's Criminal Investigative Unit and Animal Control Team are investigating the circumstances of the incident.
Following the alleged drowning, Camp Canine temporarily suspended its daycare operations. The facility stated it is reviewing its safety procedures and emergency response protocols. In a statement posted to Instagram, the general manager of Camp Canine apologized to Bruce's family, acknowledging that the facility "failed in our responsibility to keep their dog safe" and offering condolences.
The family expressed devastation over Bruce's death and the handling of the situation afterward. They hope that sharing their story will help prevent similar tragedies. A GoFundMe campaign was previously established to assist with cremation and memorial expenses.