Dozens of supporters gathered Wednesday morning outside Camp Canine to honor Bruce, the one-year-old English bulldog whose drowning last week sparked national attention and calls for accountability.
The peaceful protest, which was organized after Bruce’s death at Camp Canine, comes as Santa Barbara police continue their investigation into the incident. Bruce’s death has drawn media attention nationally, inspiring the hashtag #JusticeForBruce and prompting thousands of dollars in donations for his family.
Many demonstrators carried signs and repeatedly chanted “Justice for Bruce” during the roughly two-hour protest. People hugged and cried as passing drivers honked in support, and Santa Barbara police escorted the group as it marched around the block.
“We are here for justice and to keep eyeballs on this case,” said Alison Genet, the mother of Bruce’s owner, Ashley Merz. “We are here so this doesn’t happen to anyone else.”
Genet spoke on behalf of her daughter, who she said was too devastated to attend and address the crowd.
“We are here to honor Bruce, who just had his first birthday,” Genet said. “We would hope this time this story might bring some change.”
Genet thanked those who had shared Bruce’s story and supported the family, saying the public’s attention has helped prevent the incident from being forgotten.
“Bruce’s story is worldwide, and that speaks volumes,” she said. “People care about their pets, and they aren’t just property.”
The family has not received a direct explanation from Camp Canine about the circumstances surrounding Bruce’s death, Genet said.
“We haven’t heard from Camp Canine since we were informed of Bruce’s death,” she said. “There has been no help or private apology. They also haven’t given any answers or explanation of events.”
Genet said Bruce was picked up at 3:30 p.m. that day, but the family still does not know when he was found or for how long he had been in the pool. She said Chris Merz, Ashley’s husband, learned of Bruce’s death only after arriving at the facility.
“What we do know is that we were not informed when they found Bruce,” Genet said. “They waited for Chris to show up to tell him of his passing.”
The police department has not publicly released a detailed timeline of the incident. Genet said the family hopes additional information will emerge through the ongoing investigation.
She also called for the safety changes Camp Canine announced after Bruce’s death to be implemented and maintained.
“We are here to make sure that the policy changes and development of procedures in Camp Canine’s statement are put in place and not just pretty words,” she said.
Julie Di Sieno, co-founder and director of the Animal Rescue Team in Santa Ynez, served as organizer of the demonstration after her organization’s rescue hotline began receiving calls about Bruce.
“We’re happy that we got this crowd out here in attendance midweek, on a workday, in the heat,” she said. “A lot of us drove from Santa Ynez, Los Angeles and all around to support this family through their immense grief right now.”
Natalia Baker, a local dog trainer with 15 years of experience, said she wants Bruce’s death to lead to stronger regulations for dog daycare and boarding facilities.
“I hope to see this place not exist anymore,” Baker said. “I want to see Camp Canine shut down. I want to see laws change. I want to see dogs be more than property.”
Baker said pet owners should ask facilities detailed questions about staffing, supervision, emergency procedures and the number of animals under each employee’s care.
Genet said the family hopes Bruce’s death encourages other pet care providers to examine their own emergency procedures and ensure employees know how to respond.
“We really hope that Bruce’s tragic death wasn’t for nothing,” she said, “and this helps other dog care providers open a conversation about their procedures.”
