Lennox the Dog Is Dead

Lennox the dog is dead, murdered by the Belfast City Council this morning.

Nobody could save him. Not the Save Lennox Campaign, not social media, not Twitter, not Facebook, not political pressure by Northern Ireland's First Minister Peter Robinson, not the efforts of celebrity dog lovers like Victoria Stilwell, not an online army, not physical protestors swarming Belfast and British and Irish Consulates in New York, not worldwide vigils, and not your thoughts and prayers.  

It all failed. Nothing worked. Lennox was at the mercy of the Belfast City Council, and the council showed none. With breathtaking stupidity, the council decided that the Bulldog/Lab mix, who had hurt no one, was a "Pit Bull-type" dog and needed to be put down. Why?  In a statement released before the murder, the council cited "experts" who concluded the Bulldog/Lab mix was dangerous. This morning it released another:

"Whilst there is an exemption scheme to which dogs of this type (Pit-Bull Terrier type) may be admitted as an alternative to destruction, there were no such measures that could be applied in this case that would address the concerns relating to public safety," said the statement. 

Pit-Bull Terrier-type? We're still talking about Lennox, right? The Bulldog/Lab mix?

It went on, shockingly: "The council's expert described the dog as one of the most unpredictable and dangerous dogs he had come across."

Really, Belfast City Council? You sound like someone trying to save his ass -- but careful, you might choke on that ridiculous hyperbole. And where's your expert? Half of the animal behaviorists and experts in the world (with Victoria Stilwell leading the charge) were clamoring to visit Lennox, but you went with your guy. Trot him out. Let him talk. 

And then, the statement falls off a cliff: "Over the past two years, Council officials have been subjected to a sustained campaign of abuse including threats of violence and death threats. The Council has been in ongoing contact with the PSNI in relation to that."

Explain to us, Belfast City Council, what a line about how you've been suffering is doing in your 150-word statement about how you've killed an innocent dog? Oh, right: Tit for tat. We get it. Carry on, killers. 

Are you confused? Outraged? Angry? You should be. What's to stop people like this from finding "experts" to say your dog is dangerous? Nothing. There is nothing to stop them. If you live in an area where Dangerous Dog legislation exists or is coming (now is when you start paying attention to that), there is nothing you can do, when people like the Belfast City Council have "experts" who think a non-violent Bulldog/Lab mix is not only a Pit Bull, but "one of the most unpredictable and dangerous dogs he had come across." It's a travesty.

We end with messages -- heartfelt, angry, sad -- from the Save Lennox Campaign on Facebook:

Stephanie Boyd: ?"A good dog never dies. He always stays. He walks besides you on crisp autumn days when frost is on the fields and winter's drawing near. His head is within our hand in his old way."

Maggie Craven: I am so sorry for your loss, my heart is truly broken for you and your family! RIP Lennox you are at the rainbow bridge catching up on some much needed fun. 

Audrey Quah: My heart breaks and weeps for the Barnes family especially lil Brooke. RIP Lennox, run free at rainbow bridge. You're one very loved dog.

Rachael Ferguson: This is only the beginning of this saga. THERE MUST be an investigation into what REALLY went on behind the scenes in this case, from the dog warden who took Lennox right through to the BCC staff who laughed and made animal noises down the phone to people who rang in to enquire this morning. ... RIP Lennox and love to him and his wonderful incredible family. it was an honour to briefly meet them and to support them throughout this battle. I will remain loyal to them in any future action they take.

Elaine Robins: BCC = Belfast Crooked Cowards!

Rowan Panda Davis: Poor fella. Belfast council have blood on their hands today. God bless Lennox.

Kathleen Burkett: Our prayers are with all who knew the love and beauty of Lennox, my heart breaks for you. Those who have ever loved a pit, pitmix or just a boxy headed dog know the struggles you have faced, I will take a pit who is loved over any other breed.

Marcello Morrone Liutaio: Boycott [Northern] Ireland. RIP Lennox

Tara Furmomforever Cohen: My heart to you in the loss of this beautiful boy. He has opened the eyes the eyes of the world and will not be forgotten. Run free as you were always meant to Lennox ... BB

Karen Lawver: RIP Lennox. You are free now. I am so sorry your death was the only way to your freedom. I hope you remember the LOVE your family gave you. I know you were not dangerous and so does the rest of the world.

Cheryl Gavreluk: My condolences to the family. I can't imagine the heartache you must be feeling at this time. He will look after you from above and always be with you in spirit.

Nancy Norwood Bowes: "Any society, any nation, is judged on the basis of how it treats its weakest members; the last, the least, the littlest." I am ashamed to be part of the human race this morning. RIP Lennox! May your death be the catalyst for change, compassion, and understanding.

Sue Barbeau: Where one door closes, another opens .... let's all believe that Lennox has opened the door to make this the beginning of the end of BSL.

Fiona Diggins: Rest In Peace sweet puppy, your death will not be in vain and we will keep fighting for an end to BSL. Your memory lives on. Sending love and hugs to the family, my thoughts are with you. 

Teresa Manzo: Only tears ... i love you little boy ... now you are free ... sorry dear ... sorry ...

You are also free to comment on the Belfast City Council Facebook. Caution: It's hot in there. 

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Lennox the Dog Seems Headed to His Death in Northern Ireland

Lennox, the nonviolent dog in Northern Ireland who committed the crime of looking like a Pit Bull, might be put to sleep in the coming hours, despite the efforts of an international campaign to spare the dog. Tonight (Tuesday) at midnight -- about 4 p.m. Pacific and 7 p.m. Eastern in the U.S. -- is the deadline for legal appeals.

Members of Lennox's family have made their peace. It's a ridiculous, heartbreaking situation, made all the more insane by the ineptitude of the Belfast City Council. In Northern Ireland, being a Pit Bull is death sentence, according to its Dangerous Dogs Act. But Lennox is actually an American Bulldog and Labrador cross, not a Pit Bull. The dog has even been DNA registered, and "DNA registry evinced no trace of Pit Bull in Lennox's ancestry," as Dogster reported last month. ("Will Lennox the Dog Be Just Another BSL Statistic?")

But don't tell that to the Belfast City Council Dog Wardens. They believe Lennox is a Pit Bull-type dog because they measured him with measuring tape, and the measurements of Lennox correspond with the measurement of a Pit Bull.  A measuring tape -- Belfast City Council Dog Wardens, on the cutting edge of Victorian-era dog research. 

The battle to save Lennox has become an international campaign since the dog was seized in 2010, picking up steam considerably in the past few weeks, with protests in New York and Ireland. On July 9, Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson joined the fray, as reported by the BBC. He called for the animal to be spared, via Twitter. 

"Spoke to Lord Mayor about Lennox," the first minister tweeted. "Suggested BCC should seriously look at re-homing option. Why exercise the Order if there's an alternative?"

Junior Minister Jonathan Bell jumped in after, tweeting, "Have to say I agree with First Minister re-homing Lennox outside the jurisdiction is best. Why would courts or BCC not be content?"

The Belfast City Council released a statement Tuesday, stating that it remains convinced the dog is dangerous, despite Lennox never having bitten or harmed anyone in any way. 

"The council acknowledges the goodwill on the part of a significant number of people who would wish to have the dog Lennox spared from being humanely put to sleep," says the statement, reported by the BBC. "The council has a duty which it performs reluctantly in order to ensure public safety. Re-homing will not deal with the issues in this case -- the dog has been found to be unpredictable and dangerous by experts. That view is shared by the courts and the dog is now the subject of an order by the courts." Yesterday, Lennox's human family posted this message on the Save Lennox Campaign on Facebook. 

We would like to take this opportunity to thank you all again for your messages of support. We are sorry to say at the present time Belfast City Council seem to be intent on killing our boy. Despite previous assurances otherwise, we have been denied the opportunity to say goodbye. We have also been told that we cannot collect his body and bring Len home. We have been informed however that we will receive "some" ashes in the mail.

We wish we could report that there's still something someone can do, but it appears that time has run out. We're bracing ourselves for the heartbreaking, terrible end to this story that the Belfast City Council seems intent on, and we send our thoughts out to Lennox in his final moments. Please take a moment to do the same. 

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Will Lennox the Dog Be Just Another BSL Statistic?

Lennox as a puppy. Photograph courtesy of the Barnes family.

Lennox has lost his last chance to escape a death sentence -- just because he looks like a Pit Bull.

A valiant worldwide campaign to save this dog's life has apparently failed, thanks to a court decision this week in Belfast, Northern Ireland. 

Because of breed-specific legislation, Pit Bulls are illegal in Northern Ireland. In May 2010, a 5-year-old American Bulldog-Labrador cross named Lennox was taken from his owners by the Belfast City Council and declared a "danger to the public" simply because he was a "Pit Bull-type dog." Lennox was then placed in a kennel, waiting to be euthanized.

His distraught owners mounted a campaign to save his life. Word spread around the world that Lennox had been microchipped, Safe Pet registered, and DNA registered, and that he was a protective companion to the family's disabled preteen daughter. Even though the DNA registry evinced no trace of Pit Bull in Lennox's ancestry, the death sentence was not removed.

Striving to save Lennox's life, owner Caroline Barnes said in court that the dog had never bitten anyone or misbehaved since being impounded, according to Irish Central.

"She says her dog was never given a chance."

On Tuesday, Barnes' legal team went before the Court of Appeal and three judges to make a final plea. But the judges remained firm, confirming yet again that Lennox will be put down.

Lennox. Photograph courtesy of the Barnes family.

"An expert dog handler, retained by the City Council, said Lennox had a severe personality defect, including having a problem with strangers. They added it would be impossible to tell what the dog might do under stress," Irish Central reports.

The court’s statement reads:

“The judge had heard evidence on the issues relating to this dog over a protracted two-day hearing, carefully considered the evidence and the issues, and he reached conclusions of fact which have not been vitiated by any error of law on his part.”

No date for Lennox's destruction has been released, nor will the Barnes family get a chance to see him again before his death, Irish Central reports. We at Dogster HQ think that's just plain cold considering all they have done to rally support around their dog over the past two years.

The following message was posted at the "Lennox Campaign" Facebook page:

"Lennox's family will release a statement in due course once they have had time to absorb today's ruling by Chief Justice Girvan. The family kindly ask all supporters to remain calm and dignified as always in their response to today's sad and very wrong decision by the Northern Ireland Chief Justice. Thank you."

Advocates for Lennox launched a petition on Tuesday. Titled "Boycott Belfast," the petition reads: 

"This page is to let Belfast know that animal lovers all over the world are angry and that we will not support them in any way -– EVER. We will never travel to their city –- some will even not come to the country, we will not endorse you in any way. Unless something is done to make this injustice right."

Editor's Note: When we first heard this story, we were hoping against hope for a happy ending for this dog who had done NOTHING wrong. He wasn't even the "breed" they were discriminating against! This is disappointing and disgusting, Northern Ireland, and we're crossing you off our places-to-see list.

Lennox, sweet boy, you won't be forgotten by many of us around the world soon. 

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