Bruce, a three-year-old Great Pyrenees mix, never should have died the way he did.

He bit several people while in the care of a family facing homelessness and instability, and Ventura County Animal Services declared him "vicious" and ordered him euthanized. A hearing officer and a judge both upheld that order.

Santa Paula Animal Rescue Center said there was another way. "Obviously, we're not denying the bites, and we're not denying the harm that might have been caused by or was caused -- but the larger issue is, do we just kill an animal based on things that happened a long time ago? Or do we take into consideration the totality of their behavior, and more importantly, do we try to find a life-saving alternative?" according to Dan Bolton, an attorney representing the rescue center.

Bruce's family wanted him kept permanently away from the public, but that option was never seriously considered. An emergency appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court could not stop his euthanization in time.

"Vicious" dogs deserve more than an automatic death sentence when a safe alternative exists. Ventura County Animal Services Director Esteban Rodriguez and the County Board of Supervisors should require officials to weigh life-saving options before ordering euthanasia.

Sign the petition to demand life-saving alternatives before another dog is euthanized like Bruce.