Bruce is being executed tomorrow! Beg for clemency!
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URGENT: Emergency Motion Filed in the Ninth Circuit — Ventura County Must Stand Down Ventura County has announced that it plans to kill Bruce tomorrow morning. Bruce’s lawyers have now filed an emergency motion in the Ninth Circuit. Ventura County says it respects the judicial process. Then respect it. Do not kill Bruce before the Ninth Circuit has a chance to rule. The County knew a notice of appeal had been filed. The County received a standstill request asking that Bruce be preserved while appellate review and resolution discussions proceed. Instead of giving a clean answer, the County rushed to schedule Bruce’s death and released a prepared press statement defending that decision. That is not respect for the process. That is an attempt to make the appeal meaningless before the appellate court can act. No court has ordered Ventura County to kill Bruce tomorrow morning. The federal stay was lifted, but that does not require the County to execute Bruce immediately. It does not prevent the County from agreeing to a standstill. It does not prevent the County from returning to court with a stipulated resolution. It does not prevent VCAS, County Counsel, Oxnard, SPARC, and the parties from pursuing a lawful rescue-release outcome. The County’s statement says VCAS “must now comply.” That is a choice dressed up as inevitability. Ventura County can preserve Bruce while the Ninth Circuit considers the emergency motion. Ventura County can agree not to kill Bruce while appellate review is pending. Ventura County can work with SPARC and counsel on a lawful resolution. Ventura County can return to the Superior Court and ask for modification or approval of a rescue/sanctuary disposition. Ventura County can stipulate to a safe, structured placement. SPARC is willing to pay for Bruce’s care and sanctuary placement. The choice is not between killing Bruce and releasing him back into the circumstances that led here. The mandatory rescue-release path exists to avoid that false choice: full disclosure, written conditions, professional assessment, structured placement, responsible management, and accountability. Ventura County says it respects the courts. Then respect the Ninth Circuit. Do not kill Bruce before the emergency motion is heard. Stand down. Preserve Bruce. Let the Ninth Circuit rule.
Ventura County Animal Services will kill or murder, whichever word you so choose, Bruce the dog, tomorrow, Wednesday August 12th, at 11:00am.
Their location is 600 Aviation Drive in Camarillo.
Their phone number should you desire to let them know your thoughts is 805-338-4341.
The point of contact is Sandra Ropes.
EMERGENCY: Bruce is scheduled to be killed tomorrow morning. This is unconscionable. SPARC and Bruce’s family filed a notice of appeal on Friday. Their counsel asked the County for a standstill so Bruce would not be killed while emergency relief could be addressed through the courts. The County had a clear off-ramp. It could preserve Bruce’s life. It could work with SPARC. It could choose the humane alternative that is already available. Instead, we are now hearing that County Counsel is preparing a press release about Bruce’s euthanasia. Ventura County should not be preparing to explain Bruce’s death. It should be stopping it. Emergency legal relief is being pursued, but it may not stop VCAS in time. That is why the community must act NOW. Not later. Now. VCAS has held Bruce for more than five months without walks, exercise, or ordinary human touch. Its own records describe him as calm, friendly, social, easy to handle, and well behaved in custody. They even called him a “Model Citizen.”. More than 4,200 people have joined A Dog Named Bruce. Nearly 4,400 people have signed the petition asking Ventura County to let Bruce leave VCAS alive. The community is not confused about what is being asked. SPARC is ready to help. A humane alternative exists. There is no reason to kill Bruce tomorrow morning. Please share this post loudly and widely. Call. Email. Contact local media. The full contact list is in the pinned comment below. Ask VCAS, County Counsel, the Board of Supervisors, and County leadership to stop tomorrow’s euthanasia, work with SPARC, and let Bruce leave VCAS alive. Bruce does not have time for silence. Please go to the pinned comment now for phone numbers, emails, and a message you can copy and send. COMMENT 1: BOARD / COUNTY ACTION
Please contact Ventura County leadership NOW. Call and email respectfully, but urgently. Copy/send message:
Please stop Bruce’s euthanasia tomorrow morning. A notice of appeal has been filed, emergency legal relief is being sought, and SPARC is ready to help. Ventura County should not be preparing to explain Bruce’s death. It should be stopping it. Do not kill Bruce. Work with SPARC and let Bruce leave VCAS alive.
Board / CEO Contacts: Matt LaVere, District 1: [District1@ventura.org](mailto:District1@ventura.org), [Matt.LaVere@ventura.org](mailto:Matt.LaVere@ventura.org), 805-654-2703
Jeff Gorell, District 2: [District2@ventura.org](mailto:District2@ventura.org), 805-214-2510
Kelly Long, District 3: [District3@ventura.org](mailto:District3@ventura.org), 805-654-2276
Janice Parvin, District 4: [Supervisor.Parvin@ventura.org](mailto:Supervisor.Parvin@ventura.org), 805-955-2300
Vianey Lopez, District 5: [District5@ventura.org](mailto:District5@ventura.org), 805-654-2613
Clerk of the Board: [clerkoftheboard@venturacounty.gov](mailto:clerkoftheboard@venturacounty.gov), 805-654-2251
County Executive Office: [CountyExecutiveOfficer@venturacounty.gov](mailto:CountyExecutiveOfficer@venturacounty.gov), 805-654-2681
County Executive Officer Mike Pettit: [Mike.Pettit@venturacounty.gov](mailto:Mike.Pettit@venturacounty.gov), 805-654-2864
County Counsel Tiffany North: [Tiffany.North@ventura.org](mailto:Tiffany.North@ventura.org), 805-654-2580, 805-654-5000
COMMENT 2: VCAS / SHELTER CONTACTS
Please also contact VCAS directly and ask them to stop Bruce’s euthanasia tomorrow morning and work with SPARC.
Esteban Rodriguez, VCAS Director: [Esteban.Rodriguez@ventura.org](mailto:Esteban.Rodriguez@ventura.org)
VCAS main: 805-388-4341
Toll-free: 1-888-223-PETS (7387)
General email: [info@vcas.us](mailto:info@vcas.us)
Message:
Please do not kill Bruce tomorrow morning. SPARC is ready to help, a notice of appeal has been filed, and emergency legal relief is being sought. Work with SPARC and let Bruce leave VCAS alive.
COMMENT 3: MEDIA CONTACTS
Please contact local media NOW and ask them to cover Bruce’s emergency before morning.
Message:
Bruce, a SPARC dog held by Ventura County Animal Services for more than five months, is scheduled to be killed tomorrow morning. SPARC and Bruce’s family have appealed, emergency legal relief is being sought, and SPARC is ready to help. Please cover this urgent story tonight.
Ventura County Star: [general.news@vcstar.com](mailto:general.news@vcstar.com), [stacie.galang@vcstar.com](mailto:stacie.galang@vcstar.com), 805-437-0222, 1-844-331-9990
Thousand Oaks Acorn: [tonewstip@theacorn.com](mailto:tonewstip@theacorn.com), 805-367-8232
Camarillo / Moorpark Acorn: [scott@theacorn.com](mailto:scott@theacorn.com), [moorpark@theacorn.com](mailto:moorpark@theacorn.com), 805-484-1949 ext. 410, 844-644-NEWS
Ventura Breeze: 805-653-0791
VC Reporter: 626-584-1500
Ojai Valley News / Ventura County Sun: 805-646-1476
KEYT News Channel 3-12: [news@keyt.com](mailto:news@keyt.com), 805-882-3930, investigations tipline 805-882-3903
KTLA: [ktla@ktla.com](mailto:ktla@ktla.com), 323-460-5513, 323-460-5500
NBC4 Los Angeles: [tips@nbcla.com](mailto:tips@nbcla.com), breaking news 818-684-4321
ABC7 / KABC: 818-863-7777, 877-777-NEWS / 877-777-6397
Procedural RequirementsAdvance Notice: You must contact the Motions Unit in San Francisco by phone (415-355-8020) or email (emergency@ca9.uscourts.gov) before filing an emergency motion.After-Hours Contact: For true after-hours emergencies that cannot wait until the next business day, you can call the court at 415-355-8000.