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The owner of an English bulldog who allegedly drowned while in the care of a doggy daycare broke down in tears during a protest Wednesday outside the Santa Barbara business.
Ashley Merz of Ventura joined the protest, with dozens of others, to demand accountability from Camp Canine, the daycare where her dog, named Bruce, allegedly drowned Sunday.
The gathering was intended to honor Bruce and to support his family as they seek answers following the incident.
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“We will gather to honor Bruce and stand in support of his family as they seek accountability following his tragic death while in the care of Camp Canine,” a Facebook post about the protest read.
Attendees were asked not to bring their dogs because of the expected heat and large crowds. The post also encouraged community members to join in advocating for “transparency, accountability and the safety of all dogs.”
Bruce’s death drew widespread attention after his owners said they arrived at Camp Canine to pick him up and were instead informed that he had allegedly drowned in one of the facility’s pools.
The family says they were never notified before arriving and were shown Bruce’s body lying in a plastic tub after being told what had happened to him. They were later informed he had somehow ended up in the large-dog yard, where two unfenced pools are located, despite employees reportedly acknowledging he was not supposed to be there.
The devastating moment of Chris finding out what had happened to Bruce was captured on video by someone who appeared to be another Camp Canine patron.
Bruce had been attending and training at Camp Canine for about six months, according to the family.
The Santa Barbara Police Department responded to the facility after receiving a report of the drowning. The department’s Criminal Investigative Unit and Animal Control Team are investigating the circumstances surrounding Bruce’s death.
Following the incident, Camp Canine temporarily suspended its daycare operations while it reviews its facility, safety procedures and emergency response protocols.
In a statement posted to Instagram, the daycare’s general manager apologized to the family, saying the facility had “failed in our responsibility to keep their dog safe” and expressing condolences for their loss.
Bruce’s family has said they remain devastated not only by his death but also by how they believe the situation was handled afterward. They hope sharing Bruce’s story will help prevent similar tragedies in the future.
A family member previously launched a GoFundMe to help cover cremation and memorial expenses.
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