A California dog named Bruce, a three‑year‑old Great Pyrenees‑German Shepherd mix, was euthanized despite reaching the Supreme Court. The legal battle began in March 2024 after a series of biting incidents between February 2024 and February 2026.

Ventura County Animal Services documented four attacks causing severe lacerations, including a November 4, 2025 bite that required surgery and skin grafts. The agency petitioned to have Bruce declared vicious for public safety, and a hearing officer ordered euthanasia on March 26. A Superior Court judge upheld the ruling on April 15, giving a month to carry out the order.

Owners and the Santa Paula Animal Rescue Center fought the decision, filing emergency applications that ultimately reached the Supreme Court. Attorney Dan Bolton, representing the owners, likened Bruce to a death‑row inmate and criticized the lack of a stay. The Court denied the emergency request a day after the dog was put down.

Animal Services said it followed the law and protected the community, while Claire Birgy, the owner, and her daughter Winona Birgy‑Krasnoff expressed heartbreak. The case highlights tensions between animal‑control mandates and efforts to preserve pets through the judicial system.