Help Save Lennox
UPDATE
Belfast City Council confirmed today that the dog Lennox, an illegal pit-bull terrier type, has been humanely put to sleep. This was in accordance with the Order of the County Court which was affirmed by the Northern Ireland Court of Appeal.
While there is an exemption scheme to which dogs of this type (pit-bull terrier type) may be admitted as an alternative to destruction, the BCC said there were no such measures that could be applied in this case that would address the concerns relating to public safety. The Council`s expert described the dog as one of the most unpredictable and dangerous dogs he had come across.
Over the past two years, Council officials say they have been subjected to a sustained campaign of abuse including threats of violence and death threats.
The Council said it regretted that the court action was necessary but emphasized that the safety of the public remains its key priority. (Source)
end update
Tonight as the weekend winds down, the fate of a dog in Belfast, Northern Ireland hangs in balance. He is scheduled to be Euthanized tomorrow or Tuesday, July 9th or 10th, for the simple crime of looking like a pitbull which are banned in Belfast. Most of you already know the story of Lennox since this has been so on going. He was seized more than two years ago by Belfast dog wardens who deemed he must die under the Dangerous Dog Act because of how he looks. There had been no charges of wrongdoing by the dog, a docile, a loved family pet. He has since been held by the Belfast City Council in captivity and seclusion without even a bed to lie on, denied any visitation by his family. He has been fed and given water, but the stress has taken it's toll on him and he is showing the wear and tear of this cruel confinement.
Appeals have been made by his family over the course of the 2 years and each time have been struck down in court. Lennox has committed no crime, has never even bitten anyone. Another similar case there of a dog named Paul was granted a reprieve to be sent to Southern Ireland which does not have this BSL (Breed Specific Legislation) and that dog had even bitten another dog. But Lennox has not been allowed to leave despite requests from some in America to take him there. Now as his death sentence looms near, his family has not even been granted the chance to see him one more time.
A protest was held in Belfast yesterday for his release. People in New York City are holding a protest on Monday, July 9th in front of the British Consulate since N. Ireland is a part of the UK. Over 127,000 people have signed an online petition and many calls were made and emails have been sent all protesting this case. Celebrities in the UK have also made appeals for the release of Lennox. Yet Belfast refuses to listen and a sad and lonely dog sits alone in a isolated cell and does not understand any of this. He only knows that he misses his family terribly. Dogs are highly social creatures. This kind of treatment would not even be allowed for human prisoners - it is cruel and inhumane. It only shows the dangers of BSL legislation based on the looks of a dog - in this case an extreme version of it.
More about the Lennox case ~
© By June Maxam
BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND—When rationale, common sense, and compassion and efforts of reasonableness have thus far failed in negotiations and pleas to Belfast officials to save the life of a dog named Lennox, its time to hit Belfast in the spot that matters the most to them all—their pockets. The world’s eyes and their outrage are focused on Belfast and their officials.
And those people have money, they are the consumers. The Lennox case has become a right to life template in Belfast.
More than 170, 000 people worldwide, a grassroots movement involving those who called themselves the Lennox Liberation Army, have signed a petition, pleading with the Belfast government to give Lennox his freedom. Thousands more have more recently joined the fight with Lennox supporters now estimated to total more than a quarter of a million people, all of whose spending habits impact the economy.
They vow to continue their fight for his freedom, organizing and engaging in peaceful protests and demonstrations in Belfast and indeed, around the world. The world is pleading with Belfast to allow Lennox to live, a dog who is guilty of absolutely no wrongdoing, to have mercy and grant his release, if not to his family, then to well known British-American dog trainer Victoria Stilwell or another dog trainer in the U.S. who has offered to provide the dog refuge and care.
Efforts have been stepped up to boycott Belfast and a letter writing campaign is underway to the merchants and businesses of Belfast, encouraging them to contact their members of Parliament to seek clemency for Lennox or else have their own livelihoods detrimentally impacted. Hundreds if not thousands of commenters in the social media and in comment sections of online publications have vowed to never step foot in Belfast or buy any products manufactured or imported by Northern Ireland.
Belfast is in the contempt of the world because of how they treat animals and specifically, a beloved family pet named Lennox who they’ve held captive on death row for more than two years and now intend to euthanize him on Monday or Tuesday.
An intense letter writing blitz directed at impacting the tourism and financial environment of Belfast is underway. Belfast businesses are being contacted by thousands of people worldwide, not just Belfast, with a message that in essence says that since hearing that the dog Lennox may be put to sleep, they will not be vacationing in Belfast or spending any money with Belfast businesses. Should the city of Belfast let the dog go, then these people exclude Belfast in any vacation plans. While it is a respectful letter writing campaign, it is hoped it will pressure Belfast businesses to contact their officials in support of saving Lennox, a dog who has been sentenced to die by lethal injection next week simply because he looks like a pit bull.
Seized more than two years ago by Belfast dog wardens who said he must die under the Dangerous Dog Act because of how he looks. There had been no charges of wrongdoing by the dog, a docile, family pet. He has since been held by the Belfast government in captivity and seclusion, denied any visitation by his family. There is evidence that the dog has been mistreated and denied medical treatment by the government. The family’s request for their own vet to visit the dog was also denied.In that the family has now abandoned all further legal proceedings after losing their appeal before the Court of Appeals on June 12, the dog is scheduled to die on July 9 or 10. It has been reported that the family’s request to see their dog one last time has been denied. It’s also been reported that their request for his body has been denied. There is growing concern that the Belfast government may have already euthanized Lennox.
Link for the New York Protest on Monday, July 9th - https://www.facebook.com/events/386467824745824/
VIDEO Help Save Lennox
Why don't these officials go after some criminals & leave this poor puppy alone!!!!
i've been following this case for most of the two years. i just don't understand Belfast City Council's refusal to turn him over to one of the very knowledgable behaviorists who have offered to take him to the US. i'm wondering, as are many others, if he is not already dead or in such poor condition that he would bring more shame on the council if he were to be shown. They have already said they refuse the family's wishes, if they do euthanize, to claim his body. Something is very, very rotten here.
I don't understand how someone can kill an animal based on what it looks like. Can we do this to the judge that ordered Lennoxs' death? Can we, in good conscience, allow this to happen, even once? If we do, then we have doomed all dogs forever.
I think that they won't release Lennox because he is either already dead, or the dog wardens have abused him, and releasing him will make that apparent. I will definitely help them pay for a private investigator.. Something stinks in Belfast!
STOP CALLING THIS "EUTHANASIA!!!!!!!!!!"
Sounds like the southern half of North America !!! Now, FREE Lennox !!! Lock up those Irish Drunks that want to kill them and send The English to Guard them !!!
Quit killing Pitbulls you Drunken Potatoe Heads ! May you all rot inside from your own whiskey !!!
Can we get England to blow Belfast City Council's Asses to Hell !?! I thought that those freaky fucken catholic's believed in a Patron Saint, Saint Francis of Assissi, for Animals !!!
save the dogs and put the idiots down! he has harmed no one and has a good home and loving family who want him back!!!!!!!!
Sounds like these people are just savages not with the real world yet...They should be charged with animal cruelity...maybe it's how they get their rocks of....
There is a special place in hell for people like this! FREE LENNOX, NOW, SEND HIM HOME!!
Uneducated heartless inhumane poor excuses of human flesh. At one time bull terriers were the all American dog hailed for their loyalty and good behavior. Bad training and idiot dog fighters have given the breed a bad rap, I have met many bull dogs full of love and affection. FREE LENNOX HE DESERVES HIS FAMILY.
I feel certain this poor dog is already gone. And even if he isn't how absolutely horrible it must be for him not understanding why he's been abandoned and thinking it's his family that's done this to him.
This is heart wrenching. It sounds like the Nazi's turned on animals. If the dog only looks like a pit bull, what is the problem. He apparently is not one, or we'd be hearing he was locked up for being a pit bull. If he has shown no violent behavior, why would he be punished and done away with. Maybe a few dozen truly viscous dogs let loose on those idiots would teach them a thing or two. I'm not a violent person, that is just anger talking, but what is being done to that poor dog is cruel and inhuman. I'm glad to know what kind of people are running Belfast. I'll be sure to never go there, nor support any kind of support for them in the case of an emergency. They are apparently not really humans there. Some kind of robotic imposters pretending to be people. God have mercy on them. As His word says... What you do to the least of these, you do to Me... Remember that when your day of judgement comes.
There is no reason for Lennox to die like this. He should live a full life and die peacefully in old age, the way it is SUPPOSED TO BE.
I don't know what happen but...they arrest a dog for his look?They even care about how a animal look.I think is ok though.Something is wrong with these people...
He is not a pit bull...There are people ont the streets more dangerous that this little soul..I will pray for you sweet one..
Broke my heart......poor Lennox!!! What kind of people are BCC????? Where is the compassion???
I hope he will be saved, and all the others too!!! FREEDOM FOR LENNOX!!!!!
It is time that all of us realize that judging any living being on just their looks is WRONG!! That poor dog!! Animals feel, bleed, hurt, cry, get depressed just like humans...Creator created all living things in his/her image..what is wrong with these people. The dog did nothing wrong, and to deny the family visiting him...what have they done that they do not want them to see??? Denying him medical attention?? For the Love of Creator...this is sooo wrong...and the world is watching...Creator please hold Lennox in the palms of your hands....
Save the puppies! Stop animal cruelty and abuse! If he had attacked someoine then it's a different story, but he didn't. People are no longer allowed to kill other people based on their looks but it's fine to kill animals based on their looks???? When will this world wake up? When will the people open their eyes?????
I hit the wrong button..My name is Amanda. I wrote the piece above
This is disgusting, sentencing a dog to die because of how he looks? If this happened to a human it would be racist. My heart goes out to the family, a dog is a member of the family and to have him ripped away must be heart breaking. Love and prayers x
Lennox~ Our family is with you in spirit and love. Lord~ please let the people involved in this see their misgivings and give them the courage and power to right their own wrongs. I am not a religious person and you know i only talk to you when i need something- for that i am sorry...but please lord, this time its not for me, Amen
I would like an update of what the decision of what happened to LENNOX. Please post as soon as you can, so we know the fate of
this beloved dog.
Yes i will update
This is what Belfast City Council done this morning. On the dog licence issued by Belfast City Council, he was down has a Bull dog, not pit bull. Murderers they are.
Belfast City Council shared a link.
2 hours ago
We can confirm that the dog Lennox, an illegal pit-bull terrier type, has been humanely put to sleep. This was in accordance with the Order of the County Court which was affirmed by the Northern Ireland Court of Appeal.
View our press release at http://www.belfastcity.gov.uk/news/news.asp?id=3109
Dangerous dog is put to sleep following final court decision
www.belfastcity.gov.uk
Belfast City Council
305
UPDATE DONE
now he's gone...
i think the most important thing people are overlooking, it that this poor dog was licensed in Belfast. They acknowleged he was there. Then to turn around (after the dog and owners had legal paperwork thru Blefast) and KILL him... is an outrage.
These people that made this decision should be ashamed, of tagging a beautiful and innocent animal such as Lennox as vicious. Glad that I don't live there. This is just AWFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
all i can say is it is soooooooooooooo wrong
I wonder how many of you would still be calling for this dog to be saved if it had attacked a small child? Dogs, by their very nature, are unpredictable animals. While i agree that this dog could have been tagged and monitored in some way, who would cover the cost, and who would take the blame if it DID attack someone?
I think it's the person that brought the poor little pit into Belfast, It is their fault the dog is dead, Think next time you bring a dog into a country that doesn't allow them, instead get a Cat... I hope its on your mind all the time that it was your Fault that the dog has died...To whoever owned it.. In Florida where I live people get these type of DOGS only for CATCHING HOGS that is why they are pit's they are to Catch the hogs by their Snouts hold 'em down til the hunter gets to them, this is why they Attack people, children and they also have to put over a million dollar Insurance on their pit-bull dogs they are good only for Catching Hogs...... They have been In-Bred too many times and can make them Vicious..
absolutely Sickening,let put the idiots that did this is the same place and see how they like it.I hope that because of what happened to lennox that Ireland loses tourist,I for one will never go there now & I will also tell people about your IGNORANT ways and plead with them not to visit you sad inhumane country!OMFG,the cruel people on this planet sicken me,JUDGEMENT day is coming people,watch out!
@Karren Webb. Pit bulls can be loving and caring dogs IF YOU RAISE THEM RIGHT. And Lennox wasn't even confirmed to be a pit bull if you watched the whole video at the bottom of the page (it said he was an American bull dog labrador mix...
What the BCC has done to this poor dog that has done nothing wrong is just cruel. No animal should be treated like that. And if an animal ever does become violent, there are more humane ways to handle it, but Lennox had done nothing wrong and was seized for the way he looks. That's the equivalent of arresting a minority who is completely innocent and convict him of a crime he didn't do.
This is a sad day for all of us who grew to love this dog. I curse the Belfast Council for this inhumane thing they did to this poor, helpless dog and his family. What a disgrace you are!
This is awful. Just wrong. They could have had him set elsewhere not putdown. Frigging idiots. Don't respect an animals life.
This is horrible! It's difficult to fathom how misguided the actions of those we entrust to make the right decisions can be. Shame on those who allowed this to happen, and God bless all who fought to save Lennox. I just found out about this today, and am saddened. I'm also angered though at the irresponsible breeders who breed such animals for fighting, and the irresponsible owners who purchase them for that very purpose. These dogs aren't inherently bad, and are actually great family pets, but the actions of the irresponsible few shift opinions of those easily swayed who're ignorant of the facts. Condolences go out to the family who lost him, and I certainly hope Lennox is in a better place now.
Killing a dog for how it looks, even though its never done anything wrong..Now what does this remind you of when you think about some of the things a certain part of the human race did to another...
Human beings are acting like bloody animals. Killing poor dog because somebody decided he looks wrong. In II WW many people were killed in gas chambers because they did look wrong. I seen big rottweilers acting like little lap dogs and very small lap dogs dogs acting like wild animals. It all depends of dog's owners and dog's training. Interesting how long it takes to those City Councils to understand that there is no good or bad dog breeds just bad or good dog owners.
I have cried many tears for Lennox and his family after reading the news this morning. My heart is aching the inhumanity that exists in this world is sickening. I pray Lennox is in a place and state of bliss for eternity xoxoxo. My sincerest condolences to Lennox's family.
What is sad is that if this was a human being not an animal there are laws... genicide was committed by hitler and still is in some countries. when found it is swiftly dealt with. And lets not forget the negros who have been so wronged to the point u cant use their slang but they sure can.
May the misguided and stupidity of these actions karma back on those responsible.
To the anonymous who refers to"Drunken Potatoe Heads..." and "I thought that those freaky fucken catholic's believed in a Patron Saint, Saint Francis of Assissi, for Animals !!!", this is not helpful or accurate. Belfast is in Northern Ireland and is predominantly British and Protestant. You must be American. Maybe you can come up with some irrelevant derogatory comments for the right country now. Or you can shut the hell up & let level headed folks deal with this travesty in a respectul & appropriate manner.
Perhaps the karma has already taken place. The unity of outrage of the treatment of this one little dog has brought the entire planet together in agreement on something. This is rarely seen. My sympathies to the family.
To the Judge who allowed this to happen, I hope you never sleep at night and that poor dog will live in you memmory for a long time, I also hope you are never Judged by your looks or behaviour..cause many of people would put
you down..
Please don't tar all of Ireland with the one brush. Northern Ireland is a seperate state to the Republic of Ireland and we have different laws and legislation to those in NI. Many of us here in the Republic petitioned, emailed and tried to help overturn this cruel and senseless judgement on Lennox to no avail. Do please feel free to visit the Republic of Ireland and I'm happily joining in boycotting Belfast along with everyone else here.
I don't believe their 'expert' for a minute who insisted that Lennox was an unpredictable and dangerous dog. I find it strange that they refused to let the family visit him one last time to say goodbye or even to release his body to them. There's something very wrong there and I would call for a full inquiry to be carried out.
RIP Lennox. I'm sorry we couldn't save you.
Get the warden fired for perjury. Publicly identify the so-called "expert" who classified Lennox as dangerous. Sue the city council for illegal seizure of property and animal abuse. Investigate the treatment of Lennox while he was in captivity for two years. Does Ireland not have official animal abuse monitors to do this? Council members are elected- make your opinions known with your votes. The government's opinion of BCC's action can be expressed through it's checkbook. This whole tragedy was a misinterpretation of law, a cover up, and a murder.
With all the publicity surrounding this poor dog, i'm shocked that the decision to kill him was carried out, especially as he'd done nothing wrong and had a responsible, loving family! What goes around, comes around! Those who wronged this dog and others like him will get their just desserts one day! R.I.P. dear sweet Lenox.....many the angels take care of you now little boy! xxxx
what a disgusting story that poor dog, we have loads of people who look like thugs but are probably the nicest people, wheres the old saying dont judge a book by its cover. I hope who ended that dogs life can live with the guilt, everyone gets their come uppance.
this makes me angry. if they're afraid of the dog they should demand his family never let him walk alone, always on a leash. they're bastards. they have no right and they should spend years and years in jail.
they can demand his family send him to a dogs trainer that will evaluate him and see if he's dangerous, and if so, train him not to be.
they can demand his family put a muzzle on him every time he goes out.
there are so many other ways, but they settle on the easiest one for them. they are maniacs and they make me sick. what a disgusting story.
lennox was held at a council contracted kennel called corran kennels. corran also breed puppies at this facility and the owner helen has a history for horse abuse, check it out everyone