Bulldog's drowning sparks police probe at dog resort marketed as the 'Disneyland for dogs'

A California mates says what should person been a regular pickup astatine a canine daycare marketed arsenic the "Disneyland for dogs" ended successful heartbreak aft they were told their beloved English bulldog had drowned portion successful the facility's care.

The heartbreaking incidental has prompted a constabulary probe and an apology from Camp Canine, which acknowledged successful a nationalist connection that it "failed successful our work to support their canine safe."

Bruce, a 1-year-old English bulldog owned by Chris and Ashley Merz of Ventura, died Thursday portion successful the attraction of the Santa Barbara boarding and daycare facility.

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The Santa Barbara Police Department told Fox News Digital that officers responded to the concern successful the 800 artifact of East Montecito Street astatine astir 4:45 p.m. Thursday pursuing a study of a canine drowning.

During the archetypal investigation, officers interviewed Bruce's owners arsenic good arsenic employees who were contiguous erstwhile the incidental occurred.

"The Santa Barbara Police Department is committed to a thorough probe into this matter," the section said successful a connection to Fox News Digital. "The lawsuit is actively being investigated by our Criminal Investigative Unit and Animal Control Team."

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Exterior of Camp Canine canine daycare successful Santa Barbara, California (GoFundMe)

According to Ashley Merz's mother, Alison Genet, who spoke with section outlet Noozhawk, Bruce is believed to person drowned sometime betwixt 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. The household says they were ne'er notified astir his decease earlier arriving to prime him up astir 3:30 p.m.

Genet told the outlet the household was alternatively informed of Bruce's decease erstwhile they arrived astatine Camp Canine.

Bruce had attended Camp Canine and trained determination for astir six months, according to Genet.

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Bruce the English bulldog remembered by household aft Camp Canine tragedy (GoFundMe)

She said English bulldogs are not earthy swimmers and that Bruce was typically placed with tiny oregon medium-sized dogs due to the fact that of his size. However, she said helium someway ended up successful the large-dog yard, which contains 2 unfenced pools.

According to Genet, Camp Canine's owners acknowledged Bruce was not expected to beryllium successful that gait but were incapable to explicate however helium ended up there.

A GoFundMe created by Ashley's sister, Savannah, to assistance screen Bruce's cremation, memorial expenses and ineligible costs alleges the family's symptom was compounded by however the incidental was handled.

Bruce the English bulldog remembered by household aft Camp Canine tragedy (GoFundMe)

"What was meant to beryllium a mean time astatine Camp Canine turned into calamity erstwhile their canine drowned portion successful the facility's care," the fundraiser states.

"The symptom was compounded by the mode the concern was handled—they were not contacted erstwhile the incidental occurred, and lone learned of their dog's passing aboriginal that time erstwhile they arrived to prime him up."

The fundraiser besides alleges Bruce's assemblage was returned to his owners successful "a retention instrumentality successful the trunk of a vehicle" and says the household aboriginal learned helium had not been transported to an exigency veterinary infirmary earlier they were notified.

"My sister and brother-in-law are present near grieving the unimaginable nonaccomplishment of a beloved household member, portion trying to recognize precisely what happened that day," Savannah wrote.

Camp Canine, which says it has served the Santa Barbara country for 40 years and describes itself connected its website arsenic the "Disneyland for dogs," publically apologized Saturday successful a connection posted to Instagram.

"There are nary words that tin afloat explicit the heartbreak we consciousness pursuing the tragic nonaccomplishment of a beloved canine portion successful our attraction earlier this week," General Manager Jayne Sigman wrote.

"A household entrusted america with a cherished subordinate of their family, and they are present surviving with an unimaginable nonaccomplishment due to the fact that we failed successful our work to support their canine safe.

Bruce the English bulldog cuddles with proprietor earlier tragic daycare drowning. (GoFundMe)

"We are profoundly sorry. Our hearts are with them arsenic they grieve, and we cognize that nary words tin lessen the symptom they are experiencing."

The installation said it has temporarily suspended daycare operations portion it reviews its facility, information procedures and exigency effect protocols.

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"It is our work to larn from this loss, to marque meaningful changes, and to guarantee a calamity similar this ne'er happens again," the connection continued. "That enactment has already begun."

Fox News Digital reached retired to Camp Canine for remark but did not instantly person a response.