For those of you unfamiliar with the story of Lennox, he is a crossbreed who was seized by Belfast council back in 2010, and has become a world example of the injustice surrounding the BSL legislation.
The Facebook page for Lennox states this:
"Lennox is a loveable 7 year old family member. He's an American Bull dog Labrador cross that the family have owned since he was a little pup. As responsible dog owners that also foster for numerous Northern Ireland dog shelters his family had Lennox as a young pup Micro chipped, Neutered, DNA Registered, Pet Safe Registered, Insured and Licensed every year with the Council without fail. On Wednesday the 19th May 2010 he was taken from his family home by Belfast City Council as they believe he falls under the dangerous dogs act for Northern Ireland. The Council, without seeking any proper professional guidance declared Lennox to be a breed of "Pit Bull Type" and so they wish to kill him simply because he has the appearance of said breed. The Belfast City Council took Lennox from his loving family home using a wrongly addressed warrant and using copyright ADBA (American Dog Breeders Association) breed standards guide which the Council were never authorised to use, in doing so the Council broke international copyright laws and for doing so have been issued with a 'Cease & Desist' order from ADBA Inc. Lennox has never attacked anyone or anything yet the Council have removed him from his home where he lives his human family, his kennel mates and various foster dogs. Belfast City Council are pressuring Lennox's family to sign him over to them to be destroyed however we feel the need to fight his case, he cannot speak but we will be his voice! If this was a human we would declare this racism. We ask every kind hearted compassionate person for your support, don't let them murder him. This may be our dog today but it could be your best friend tomorrow! Please visit Lennox's main website for further ways in which you can help and for his full story. Thank you for your continued support."
These photos were released showing his miscare whilst in kennels:
Source: Facebook Save Lennox page
This has caused outrage. I personally fear for his safety, and that this has caused the council to further their claim that Lennox should be destroyed, to cover their backs for animal cruelty charges.
Recently, the family have had to admit defeat to the Council, and Lennox is to be euthanised next week, causing an uproar amongst Pitbull advocates and dog lovers across the globe.
Recently, the family have had to admit defeat to the Council, and Lennox is to be euthanised next week, causing an uproar amongst Pitbull advocates and dog lovers across the globe.
Despite following every correct path, and support from renowned dog trainers Victoria Stillwell and Cesar Milan, the courts have ruled for his destruction.
The family recently released this message:
" We apologise for the silence as we know our many friends and supporters around the world have been desperate for news but until we had further talks with our legal team we had nothing new to share. We needed to explore all possible options before we issued another statement as we did not wish to give those that have campaigned so tirelessly any false hope or for anything to be taken out of context as has happened in the past.
Whilst there may well be errors in the Judge’s ruling from a point of law this has little bearing on whether we can or should progress by taking the case to a higher court. The ruling is based on the Judge’s decision that he deems Lennox to be unsafe despite evidence given by those qualified to assess and understand dog behaviour that contradicts the testimony of the Prosecution that was presented in court. This has given us little room for manoeuvre.
Our concern and priority has always been the welfare of our beloved boy. We have fought to have Len returned to our family from the moment he was seized but we have been advised that the legal fight is at an end. We are obviously distraught but have to consider the impact that any future lengthy legal battle would have on Len if we chose to go against the advice that we have been given. We cannot subject him to any more as there are no grounds for a further appeal and we do not wish to prolong his suffering any longer by engaging in a battle that we simply cannot win.
We have attempted to write this statement many, many times but have struggled to put in writing that the fight to spare Lennox’s life may well be over. It has been almost impossible for us to accept that we have to admit defeat. We always believed that there was some hope and that justice would prevail. We were wrong. There have been many dark days for us since Len was taken and we want you all to know that it is your support and kindness that kept us going through the blackest times.
This is all we can share with you at the moment and we are finding it hard to come to terms with the fact that there is nothing more that we can do from a legal point of view and that Lennox may well be killed. We have one last hope that Belfast City Council will allow Lennox to be rehomed in the USA. The offer is there but we have no say in whether this offer will be accepted. We have never refused to rehome Lennox. That decision was taken out of our hands from the moment Len took his final walk with us from our house to the Dog Wardens van.
If the offer is turned down we will fight for our right to say goodbye. We cannot bear the thought that Lennox will die without being reminded of the hearts and hands that love him."
Currently, Victoria Stilwell is in Ireland attempting to convince the council to allow Lennox to be homed in the USA.
Next weekend, the 14th July, marks the National Anti-BSL rallies in the UK. I shall be attending the London one, and the focus will be on this injustice, and we all hope to draw attention to the serious misconduct this law enforces.
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