A couple has been left to mourn the death of their one-year-old English Bulldog after the dog allegedly drowned at a dog daycare in Santa Barbara, California. Camp Canine, the boarding facility where the dog, whose name was Bruce, was staying, has since been shut down after public outrage over the incident.
The incident took place on July 17, and police were called out to the location around 4:45 p.m., according to a report from USA Today. Bruce, who had belonged to Chris and Ashley Merz, allegedly died while under the care of staff at Camp Canine. It’s believed he drowned in one of the pools at the location around 1 or 2 p.m., according to police.
A harrowing video of the moment Chris Merz found out about his dog’s death has gone viral online as he can be heard yelling, “Oh my god! They killed my dog!” He can be seen walking with his hands on his head before saying, “I don’t know what to do, do I call the cops?”
The person recording then shows the facility and can be heard saying, “This is where I used to bring my dog; I’m f—ing shaking.”
Bruce’s owners were apparently shown his body in a tub
According to a GoFundMe set up by Ashley Merz’s sister, the situation was mishandled by Camp Canine. It’s alleged that Chris and Ashley were not contacted after the incident and only learned of their dog’s passing when they arrived to pick him up.
“To make matters even more difficult, they were given their dog’s body in a storage container in the trunk of a vehicle,” the GoFundMe description alleges. There had apparently been no attempt to transport Bruce to a local veterinary hospital before his owners arrived. The fundraiser was set up to help “ease some of the burdens they are facing,” with the money expected to go towards the cremation costs and memorial services.
On X, people gave their condolences and condemned the apparent lack of care from the dog daycare. “That poor man I feel sad for him.” One comment reads. Another claimed the dog daycare’s “shocking negligence” was “completely unacceptable.”
Following the incident, the general manager of Camp Canine, Jayne Sigman, released a statement apologizing to Bruce’s owners and the community. “A family entrusted us with a cherished member of their family, and they are now living with an unimaginable loss because we failed in our responsibility to keep their dog safe,” the statement reads. Sigman also announced that the facility would temporarily close.
The Santa Barbara Police Department also claimed that the Criminal Investigative Unit and Animal Control Team were actively investigating the incident. Chris and Ashley Merz have also reportedly retained an attorney, and a protest is set to be held outside Camp Canine on July 22.
Published: Jul 21, 2026 11:25 am