{"id":404498,"date":"2026-07-19T16:56:11","date_gmt":"2026-07-19T16:56:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/404498\/"},"modified":"2026-07-19T16:56:11","modified_gmt":"2026-07-19T16:56:11","slug":"disgusting-moment-disneyland-for-dogs-hands-california-couple-their-beloved-puppy-back-in-a-plastic-tub","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/404498\/","title":{"rendered":"Disgusting moment \u2018Disneyland for Dogs\u2019 hands California couple their beloved puppy back in a plastic tub"},"content":{"rendered":"

A California couple expecting to pick up their beloved one-year-old English bulldog<\/a> from doggy daycare instead learned he had drowned in a pool while under their care, before allegedly being shown his body lying in a plastic tub.<\/p>\n

Bruce’s owners Chris and Ashley Merz of Ventura were allegedly never contacted about their dog’s death before arriving at Camp Canine in Santa Barbara, Southern California<\/a> around 3:30 p.m. Thursday to pick him up, Ashley’s mother Alison Genet told Noozhawk<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

A California couple expecting to pick up their beloved English bulldog from daycare instead learned he had drowned. GoFundMe<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The horrifying moment was captured on video by someone who appeared to be another Camp Canine patron. GoFundMe<\/p>\n

Instead, Chris Merz was told at the daycare<\/a>, which bills itself online as “Disneyland for dogs,” that Bruce had drowned and was then shown his body inside the plastic tub.<\/p>\n

The horrifying moment was captured on video<\/a> by someone who appeared to be another Camp Canine patron.<\/p>\n

Police told the family Bruce had drowned sometime between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m.<\/p>\n

By the time the bulldog was retrieved from the pool, rigor mortis had set in, and Bruce was never taken to an emergency veterinarian, Genet claimed.<\/p>\n

\"Police<\/p>\n

Police told the family Bruce had drowned sometime between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. GoFundMe<\/p>\n

“English bulldogs, by nature, aren’t natural swimmers,” she said. Bruce had attended and trained at Camp Canine for six months before the tragedy.<\/p>\n

The facility separates small, medium and large dogs into different yards, with two unfenced pools located in the large-dog area.<\/p>\n

Bruce was typically placed with small or medium dogs because of his size but somehow ended up in the large-dog yard where he drowned.<\/p>\n

Camp Canine’s owners told the family Bruce was not supposed to be in that yard yet had no explanation as to how he ended up there.<\/p>\n

\"Bruce<\/p>\n

Bruce was typically placed with smaller dogs because of his size but ended up in the large-dog yard where he drowned. GoFundMe<\/p>\n

The Santa Barbara Police Department<\/a> responded to the boarding facility on Montecito Street at approximately 4:45 p.m. following a report of a dog drowning.<\/p>\n

“During the initial investigation, the responding officer met with the K-9’s owners, who provided information regarding their K-9 and the circumstances surrounding this tragic incident,” Lt. Ryan DeJohn said.<\/p>\n

“The officer also interviewed the employees who were present when the incident occurred.”<\/p>\n

The circumstances surrounding Bruce’s death are now under investigation by the department’s Criminal Investigative Unit and Animal Control Team.<\/p>\n

Camp Canine has temporarily suspended its daycare operations in the wake of Bruce’s death and is reviewing its facility, safety procedures and emergency response protocols.<\/p>\n

\"Bruce's<\/p>\n

Bruce’s death is now under investigation by the Criminal Investigative Unit and Animal Control Team. Tiktok\/@whitneydestinyx<\/p>\n

“There are no words that can fully express the heartbreak we feel following the tragic loss of a beloved dog while in our care earlier this week,” Camp Canine general manager Jayne Sigman said in a statement posted to Instagram Saturday.<\/p>\n

“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.<\/p>\n

“We are profoundly sorry. Our hearts are with them as they grieve, and we know that no words can lessen the pain they are experiencing.”<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The family is unsure whether anything will come of the investigation but wants to warn others about what happened. GoFundMe<\/p>\n

Genet said her daughter was “inconsolable” and that the family was disturbed not only by Bruce’s death, but by how they say the aftermath was handled.<\/p>\n

“Bruce was just the sweetest, sweetest boy,” she said. “A really good dog, and this is just a crazy tragedy. How it’s been handled\u2026 we’re upset about the tragedy, but how it’s being handled is not right.<\/p>\n

“How it was handled afterwards wasn’t right, to not call the owners, and to inform them when they show up.”<\/p>\n

The family is unsure whether anything will come of the police investigation but wants to warn others about what happened.<\/p>\n

Ashley’s sister, Savannah, has since launched a GoFundMe<\/a> to help cover Bruce’s cremation and memorial expenses.<\/p>\n

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