Tragic Incident at Dog Nursery Leads to Investigation

A couple from California is devastated after learning that their English bulldog, Bruce, drowned during what was meant to be a regular visit to a dog nursery, described as a “Disneyland for dogs.” The heartbreaking event has prompted a police investigation, and the facility, Camp Kanine, has publicly acknowledged its failure in ensuring the pets’ safety.

Bruce, just a year old, was under the care of Chris and Ashley Mertz at a boarding and daycare facility in Santa Barbara when the tragic incident occurred. The Santa Barbara Police Department confirmed that they were called to the scene on Thursday afternoon following a report of a dog drowning.

Initial inquiries involved interviewing Bruce’s owners and the staff who were present during the ordeal. The police department stated that a thorough investigation would be conducted by their Criminal Investigations Division and Animal Control Team.

According to Ashley’s mother, Alison Junette, Bruce likely drowned between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. However, his family was not notified until they arrived at approximately 3:30 p.m. to pick him up. Junette noted that Bruce had trained at Camp Kanine for around six months.

Bruce typically stayed with small or medium dogs, as bulldogs aren’t the best swimmers. Still, he was found in a large dog area that contained two unfenced pools. Junette mentioned that the nursery’s owners admitted Bruce shouldn’t have been in that particular yard but offered no explanation for how he ended up there.

A GoFundMe campaign was set up by Ashley’s sister, Savannah, to cover Bruce’s cremation, memorial, and legal fees, expressing frustration with how the incident was handled, which they believe has added to their grief. They claim that Bruce’s body was returned in an inappropriate manner and that he had not been taken to a veterinary hospital after the incident.

“What should’ve been just another day turned into unimaginable tragedy,” Savannah wrote, struggling to comprehend how the dog they loved could have drowned in a supposed safe environment.

Camp Kanine has been a part of the Santa Barbara community for 40 years, and in a statement, the general manager, Jayne Sigman, expressed deep sorrow over the loss, acknowledging that they had failed in their duty to protect the pets in their care. The facility has announced plans to temporarily suspend daycare operations to review safety procedures and emergency protocols.

Moving forward, they emphasized the importance of learning from this event to prevent similar tragedies in the future. While they have reached out for further comments, a response from Camp Kanine has yet to be received.