Dangerous Dogs Legislation

Dogs who have irresponsible owners can be victims of cruelty and neglect, in some cases dogs may suffer violence at the hands of their owners in attempts to try and encourage aggression.  Owners must be held accountable for their actions and take responsibility for their dogs training and behaviour.

Although I am pleased to hear that the Welsh government are serious about tackling the owners of dangerous dogs, I am alarmed that, like the British government, they are considering introducing just compulsory micro-chipping of dogs in order to do this next Spring.  

Although compulsory micro-chipping is better than nothing, it will not be any real benefit to dogs unless some other important elements are included in new regulations, for example, the abolition of Breed Specific Legislation (which is the legislation Belfast County Council hid behind when seizing and murdering Lennox) a registration scheme and education and engagement.

Current legislation is failing to tackle the problem of irresponsible dog ownership and since the Dangerous Dogs Act was introduced in 1991 the situation has increasingly worsened.

If you live in Wales you can tell the Welsh government what you think by taking action and contributing to their consultation which closes on Wednesday 8th August.

The English government consultation is now closed but ,if you live in England, you can still help take action against irresponsible dog ownership by signing The Sun newspapers petition calling for compulsory micro-chipping AND registration of dogs as the first step to ensure owners are made accountable for their actions.

Lennox: Channel 4 investigates?

Image taken from Facebook.

Feelings are understandably running high since the devastating news on Wednesday about Lennox.  


In the name of Lennox we continue to fight his cause against Breed Standard Legislation and the Dangerous Dog Act and also seek to investigate the shocking conduct of Belfast County Council.

There is a chance that Channel 4 will conduct an investigation into Belfast County Council's treatment of Lennox and his family for their Dispatches TV show, this would be fantastic exposure and could be a positive step on the way forward to ending Breed Standard Legislation once and for all.

To encourage Channel 4 to consider the investigation please copy and paste the text below into an e-mail addresses to dispatches@channel4.co.uk

Dear Sir/Madam,

It has been suggested that you will consider conducting an investigation and running a story on Dispatches about Lennox the dog.  As you are probably aware, Lennox was seized by Belfast County Council in May 2010, kept in captivity for over two years and murdered on Wednesday 11th June 2012.  I am writing as one of the many supporters of Lennox and his family and feel that they were treated appallingly by Belfast County Council and I don't think they should be allowed to get away with it.  I feel that if you were to conduct an investigation it could expose the way BCC have conducted themselves and help stop this from ever happening again.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Please let me know if you receive a response!

RIP Lennox

Image from Dogs Today Magazine.

...I really wanted to avoid having to write these words.  At 7am GMT Lennox was put to sleep, actually let's not sugar coat it - let's say how it really is, Lennox was murdered by Belfast County Council.  After two years in captivity and a lengthy legal battle by his ever loving and loyal family Lennox's life and tragic journey has ended.

The Barnes family are in my thoughts and prayers and I will never forget or cease admiring the courage, persistence and hard work that has been tirelessly carried out on Lennox's behalf, by the Save Lennox team and high profile supporters like behaviourist Victoria Stilwell.  The very sad thing is that Lennox will never know just how loved and supported he was.

He is now free from Belfast City Council's prison cell and in a better place, may he rest in peace.  I sincerely hope that all those involved in the decision to end Lennox's life are brought to justice, I have a feeling they will.

Lennox: Official Statement

I was saddened to read this official statement from Lennox's family today, I can't imagine how difficult it must have been to write.  My thoughts and prayers are with them and their beloved Lennox.

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.

Please visit the official website for ways to help as well as their Twitter and Facebook pages, let's not give up hope just yet.

Fluffy Friday #63 ~ Lennox

It seems fitting to dedicate this weeks Fluffy Friday to Lennox.

I found looking through the many images of the beautiful Lennox very upsetting, I can only imagine what his family are going through right now.  Please look through these pictures and whatever your religious beliefs may be, please say a little prayer or send good wishes to Lennox and his family.

If you want to do something more practical, please sign this petition and ask your friends to do the same.

Lennox in captivity, I found this one of the more upsetting pictures.

All images taken from Google Images.

#SaveLennox

Late yesterday morning Twitter began to flood with reports that a heartbreaking decision had been made by senior judges about the fate of Lennox, he is to be put to sleep.  

Once it had been confirmed by several sources, Lennox supporters voiced their heart rending outrage about the unfair and devastating decision.  I have chosen some to share with you:

@rockyrover30: "The official word from BBC on #lennox. Words fail me. Thoughts and prayers with the family at this upsetting time xxx"

@elliehurlock: "#SaveLennox has finally ended, w/the worst possible outcome. An innocent dog will be murdered purely for how he looks. What a world this is."

@beverleycuddy: "Hard to believe this innocent dog will die - against so much united international expert support. A shameful day. Poor Lennox. Poor owners."

@nightowl400: "What a world we live in where thugs n criminals walk the streets but an innocent family pet is sentenced to death! Where is the justice?? :("

@pocketouthouse: "Thoughts with the family and if you are truly a dog lover you would understand ...very sad went on to long!! I'm disgusted!"

@pazzypants1970: "can't think about it so sad. They should have done this 2 years ago"

@irenesophia1968: "So sad for Lennox and his family. Soon you will run free Lennox :'( shame on you Belfast city council #deednotbreed #endbsl"

@HopeRescue: "@SaveLennox Devastating news so very sorry. Where is common sense and compassion? Poor boy does not deserve to die - BSL is wrong!!"

@RAOKRichie: "Can words ever express the world's anger at @belfastCC "judges"? THIS IS AN INJUSTICE for an ANIMAL THAT DIDNT FIGHT BACK! IRONICALLY!"

Dog training expert Victoria Stilwell hit the nail on the head, "devastating and unjust. The dregs of humanity. Evidence from highly skilled dog behaviourists rejected and evidence from a police dog handler upheld. Shame on BSL (breed specific legislation) and shame on those for demonising particular breed types. I can tell you now that because of unqualified people who fear certain dogs, BSL will spread to other breeds, but ignorance will never win because we will continue to fight. Thoughts for Lennox's family and for Lennox. You poor, poor boy, trapped in the middle of this horror all because of human ignorance."

As I type this (less than an hour after the news leaked) there is just one news article I can post which is here from the BBC.  Things will become clearer through coming hours and I will update you as and when I am able with further articles and any statements made by the family.

I would like to take this time to add that I hope Lennox and his family can be reunited, albeit briefly, to say goodbye before he is tragically put to rest.  May Lennox's family find comfort in the fact that they never gave up and fought for Lennox until the last and may they seek solace in all the love and support they have received from campaigners all around the world.

Update  

A source who spoke to Lennox's family has confirmed that Lennox is still with us - this means there is still time.  Follow the latest developments by following @SaveLennox on Twitter and follow the conversation by searching #SaveLennox #Lennox #LennoxArmy #EndBSL

What can you do to help?

Please keep an eye on Twitter (see above) and check out the Save Lennox Facebook page for further updates as well as the Save Lennox website.  On here there is a list of people to e-mail asking them to help save Lennox, join the hundreds who have already expressed their outrage at the decision.  I sent my e-mail this morning and I am currently waiting to see if receive a response.  Lennox's family have asked 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".

Save Lennox

For quite some time I have noticed people mentioning "Save Lennox" on social networking sites.  I assumed that they were talking about a person who needed votes on a TV show or something and feel mortified that I didn't realise the true nature of the campaign till the end of last week. I am now 100% behind the cause!

Lennox is a 7 year old American Bulldog Labrador Cross, back in May 2010 he was wrongfully seized by Belfast City Council Dog Wardens who plan to euthanise him.  Lennox had not committed any crime and his owners had responsibly neutered, licensed, insured, DNA registered, Pet Safe registered and micro chipped him whilst a puppy.  

The reason Lennox was seized was after Dog Wardens measured Lennox's muzzle and rear legs with a dress maker's tape measure and claimed that he was a possible "Pit Bull type breed" they sought no professional advice to ascertain the accuracy of this claim.

Lennox has not seen his family since the fateful day in May, over two years ago.  The family do not know where Lennox is being held or of his general well being, for reasons that have not been explained by the Belfast City Council.  Recently, photographs of Lennox emerged showing him dwelling in inhumane conditions which clearly oppose the Animal Welfare Act 2006.  

I can't imagine how the family must feel knowing that Lennox is living in these conditions whilst they wait the outcome of their campaign to save his life and welcome him home.

Local Belfast MP's, Animal Rights groups, Animal Welfare organisations, Vets and Dog Breed and Behaviourist experts are all behind the Lennox campaign which has quickly gone global with hundreds and thousands of supporters.  The campaign still needs more of us to step forward and stand behind Lennox and his family.

This is the Save Lennox website, please visit and read the full story as my post is simply a summary.  The website contains a list of ways you can help, complete with template letters and contact addresses.

Finally, please do sign the petition and I can't stress enough how important it is that you spread the word about this campaign.