A pet camp in California is facing backlash after a dog left in its care drowned, and staff did not notify the owners about the dog’s death.
The incident occurred at Camp Canine Santa Barbara, and a video was later shared online. In it, the dog’s owner can be seen crying and screaming while talking on the phone. “I’m gonna kill these people! They killed my dog,” he yelled. He then asked the person on the other end of the call what he should do. He also asked whether he should contact the police.
A later part of the video showed a container in the back of a truck. It was said that it contained the dog’s body. “They killed his dog and threw him in a box. No one called him,” the person filming said. In the background, the owner could still be heard crying and repeatedly saying, “Oh my God.”
The person who shared the video also provided additional details about the incident. According to their account, the camp allowed the dog to drown. They did not notify the owner after the dog’s death either. Instead, they said staff waited until the owner arrived to pick up his dog before informing him what had happened. “What’s worse is the dog was at the bottom of the pool for a long time before being pulled out,” they added.
The family also created a GoFundMe page. In it, they shared additional details about the incident. According to the fundraiser, “They were not contacted when the incident occurred, and only learned of their dog’s passing later that day when they arrived to pick him up.” The fundraiser also stated that the camp returned the dog’s body to the family in “a storage container in the trunk of a vehicle.”
The GoFundMe also stated that the camp did not transport the dog to an emergency veterinary hospital following the incident. “My sister and brother-in-law are now left grieving the unimaginable loss of a beloved family member, while trying to understand exactly what happened that day,” the family wrote.
As of now, the fundraiser has raised more than $7,000. According to the family, the money will help cover the costs of the dog’s cremation and memorial services. It will also help with legal expenses related to the incident.
California Camp Responds To Dog’s Drowning
Camp Canine Santa Barbara later released a statement on its social media accounts addressing the incident. “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. 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. 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,” the statement read.
The camp also acknowledged that it had failed to meet the responsibility entrusted to it. In its statement, it announced that it had suspended all daycare operations while it conducts “a comprehensive review of our facility, our safety procedures, and our emergency response protocols.”
The camp concluded its statement by pledging to make changes following the incident. “Nothing can undo this heartbreaking loss, and no words can ease the pain it has caused. We can, however, ensure that this tragedy leads to meaningful and lasting change. We are committed to learning from this loss and making every improvement necessary so that every dog entrusted to our care is safer because of what we have learned. That is the responsibility we carry forward every day,” the statement read.
Viewers Outraged After California Dog’s Drowning
The video sparked reactions online. Many viewers expressed outrage after learning what happened at the California pet camp. Several commenters also sympathized with the owners and their loss. “If you think he is being too dramatic you obviously don’t love your pet. This broke my heart,” one person wrote. Another commenter said, “Idc what anyone says this is the equivalent to losing a kid to some of us.”
Others shared additional claims about the incident while expressing sympathy for the family. “The man is a war vet and puppy Bruce was his service animal. He wasn’t even supposed to be in the pool area bc he was so small, and didn’t realize he was missing from where he was supposed to be until it was too late. He was de*ad at the bottom of the pool so long RIGOR MORTIS SET IN. SUE THEM, CLOSE IT DOWN‼‼ THIS IS INSANE,” one person wrote. Another commenter said, “I hate how animals don’t get the same respect if this was a human they would’ve been arrested but bc it’s an animal they don’t do nth.”
The video sparked a conversation about the responsibility pet boarding and daycare facilities have to properly supervise the animals entrusted to their care and to respond appropriately when emergencies occur. It also led to broader discussions about the profound grief that can follow the sudden loss of a pet. Many viewers emphasized that companion animals are beloved family members whose deaths can have a lasting emotional impact on their owners.
