A shameful end to the fight to save Lennox
Examiner
Source Examiner
By Kelley Diekman
Despite exhaustive efforts by the family, politicians, celebrities and the international public outcry to save Lennox the dog after a two-year battle, he was sadly killed this morning.
Lennox was a 5 year old American Bull dog and Lab mix that was taken from his home and family in Northern Ireland in May, 2010 because he resembled a Pit Bull. The Belfast City Council seized Lennox under the Dangerous Dog Act, breed specific legislation that has marked Pit Bulls as a threat. As midnight came and went, so did the opportunity for the family to appeal the Belfast City Council’s decision to kill Lennox. Sometime this morning, Lennox was put to sleep without his family who were not allowed to see him over the past two years or even say goodbye.
The Belfast City Council posted the following press release following the despicable act:
Dangerous dog is put to sleep following final court decision
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.
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. 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 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.
The Council regrets that the court action was necessary but would emphasise that the safety of the public remains its key priority.
Unfortunately, this type of tragedy due to breed specific legislation is not limited just to Northern Ireland. Several countries around the world have similar legislation, including the United States. Only eleven states, including Minnesota, have state laws banning breed specific legislation. The Understand-A-Bull website has an interactive map showing which municipalities have breed specific legislation.
In April, a documentary about breed discrimination, Beyond the Myth, began showing at limited engagements around the country, including Minneapolis thanks to SecondHand Hounds. Beyond the Myth was a very informative, sad look into breed specific legislation and how it has impacted families and their dogs. Beyond the Myth will be officially released on September 18th, 2012 and is worth seeing. View movie trailer to the left of this article.
The end to Lennox’s two-year battle is heartbreaking. Hopefully his loss and the Belfast City Council’s blatant display of ignorance and heartlessness will plant the seeds of awareness for those in similar situations and bring results that do not end in the loss of an innocent animal.
lennox
baby fat paws,
innocent and sweet,
in your honor,
we will never
accept defeat
♥
Karen Lyons Kalmenson
Our Compass 
lennox
baby fat paws,
innocent and sweet,
in your honor,
we will never
accept defeat
♥
i posted my painting on your facebook page
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if the BCC ever needed brain surgery (which they do), there’d have to be a proctologist to assist.
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Heartbreaking
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the story of lennox is about a little girl, her companion and protector, a dog; her loving family, a world of support..all up against a system that has blatantly failed.
it has failed because it has let fear, pride, ignorance and abject cruelty, take over where kindness should step in.
lives all too often depend upon the workings of broken bureaucracies, and lives end.
but even the most fractured of systems are made of people. people, who, if they opened their eager hearts, would rise above petty nonsense and reach their highest selves.
let us pray together as a planet, for this lovely little girl, her family, and this wonderful, innocent dog♥
and shame shame shame on the belfast and furious who dug a deep hole, and thought by digging deeper, they could actually get out:(
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Shame on some people how they can be so ignorants in this century, people that is suppost to be fair , acting as a simple criminal, education received has nothing to do with them was a waiste of money and time, from one or other way there is kind of justice that one day I hope soon will make them pay for acts as the killing of innocents. To forgive criminal people who kill others for fun they are ready but not to use the common sense and have mercy for unarmed creatures, cowards!
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We’ll never forget you, it’s really very sad day, my heart is broken and I know a lot of the people feel the same way.
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THEY TOOK HIM ,AND KEPT HIM FOR 2 YEARS AND THEN KILLED HIM ! HE DID NOTHING WRONG, HE JUST LOOKED A CERTAIN WAY. THE BATTLE ISNT OVER YET. THE FAMILY ARE NOT ALLOWED LENNOX’S BODY TO BURY HIM. THEY WERE TOLD THEY CAN MAIL HIS ASHES TO THEM ! WHAT BUNCH OF BASTARDS. THE DOG WARDEN SANDY LIGHTFOOT IS THE BLAME HERE FOR LYING AND SAYING LENNOX WAS A DANGEROUS DOG ! BCC ARE A LOAD OF COWARDS WHO WOULD NOT LOSE FACE AND ADMIT THAT LENNOX WAS AN GOOD FAMILY DOG WHO NEVER EVER BIT ANYONE ! . HE WAS NOT CARED FOR WHILE IN THE COUNCIL CELL HE WAS ISOLATED AND LEFT FOR 2 BLOODY YEARS. I JUST PRAY HES FREE NOW AND IS RECEIVING LOVE IN THE SPRIT WORLD WITH THE OTHER HUNDREDS WHO SUFFERED THE SAME. THIS BSL LAW HAS TO CHANGE, ITS NOT WORKING FOR THE DOGS AND ITS A VERY CRUEL UNJUST LAW.
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the best is yet to come for those cruel and unjust people that took it upon thamsemves to kill a beautiful dog. i am sure they are hanging their heads in same for the horror they have caused..they received a letter from the boy, sent to santa” please return my dog for i am lonely, and i know my dog is lonely too.” and still no compassion for the family and the heartache they were suffering. as i posted earlier, i had 5 pit bulls, and they were the sweetest animals to own. the public needs to know that this breed is not what society claims them to be.
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This is such a sad/horrible ending to this. Talk about judging a book by its cover. My sincerest /heartfelt condolences. The decision makers here ought to lose their jobs and be truly ashamed of themselves. 😦
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There is a sickness abroad in Belfast, a bloodlust that will never be quenched. Belfast’s long history of oppression and violence is something that Belfast will never overcome. And now, in taking the life of a dog that was guilty of nothing more than looking a certain way, breaking a little girls heart in the process, Belfast has shown herself to be a land ruled by degenerates, cursed and irredeemable. You smug, arrogant bastards in the city council, enjoy your “victory” now, for it will prove a Pyrrhic one. You have opened a Pandora’s Box that will never be shut. The name Belfast, will henceforth be associated with the basest form of bigotry, intolerance and ignorance and she will pay the price. Regret for her vile act will hang in her air, most assuredly. There’s a special place in Hell, awaiting you bastards.
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RIP Lennox – our battle begins & will be resolved … for you.
He has brought us ALL together. Now it’s time to bring an end to breed ban legislation/discrimination – for ALL life on earth … and for him. Please sign the international petitions below.
NOTE: BSL (Breed Specific Legislation) is not effective – case and point in this inhumane failure witnessed around the world (Lennox’s Story: http://www.hispanicbusiness.com/2012/7/11/lennox_the_dog_whose_story_became.htm).
Humans must take back responsibility for their actions – in ownership and in societal protection.
NOTE: this post is originally from POWER TO THE CHICKENS/ https://www.facebook.com/powertothechickens – take a moment ‘LIKE’ them & create positive change.
Please sign these petitions AND post petitions (& victories) that you are aware of that are not on this list. And SHARE, SHARE, SHARE. Thank you & PTTC!
“First they came for the Communists but I was not a Communist so I did not speak out. Then they came for the Socialists and the Trade Unionists but I was not one of them, so I did not speak out. Then they came for the Jews but I was not Jewish so I did not speak out. And when they came for me, there was no one left to speak out for me” ~ Martin Niemoeller
LENNOX LAW (Global):
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/817/837/410/lennox-law/
Ontario, Canada:
http://forcechange.com/17653/end-biased-breed-specific-legislation-against-pit-bulls-in-canada/
http://www.petitiononline.com/newban2/petition.html
Fairfield, Ohio, USA:
http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/end-breed-specific-legislation-in-fairfield-oh.html
Bastrop, LA, USA:
http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/stop-breed-specific-legislation-in-bastrop-la.html
USA Congress:
http://www.petition2congress.com/5200/stopend-bsl-breed-specific-legislation/
Trinidad and Tobago:
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/fight-against-tt-breed-specific-legislation/
Australia:
http://www.change.org/petitions/australia-against-breed-specific-legislation
VICTORIES:
Wentzville, MO, USA
http://www.change.org/petitions/change-breed-specific-laws-in-wentzville-missouri
NY State:
http://www.naiaonline.org/articles/article/new-york-state-prohibits-breed-specific-legislation
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Are we sure he was killed this morning? Something isn’t right here. No one was allowed to see Lennox. No photos, no web cam, no media, nothing. Something is very wrong. If I were the family, I would pursue a lawsuit. People should be OUTRAGED. The BCC and everyone involved must be investigated and legal action must be taken.
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AN OCEAN OF TEARS RIP LENNOX http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZz2V0aCXmI&feature=player_embedded
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Heartbreaking stupidity……………………..Judged the book by the cover.. RIP, Lennox!
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RIP, Lennox. We tried our best but we failed you. Sorry
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RIP Lennox I was hoping against hope that the Belfast City Council would actually listen to the people and give Lennox some reprieve.How can some people be so ignorant and still blame the breed of a dog over the deed and bad owners make bad dogs,humans who do some terrible crimes do not get treated like poor Lennox did,they are allowed visits from families and they are not euthanised.This was not the case with Lennox how can the Belfast Council be so cruel and insensitive.
I must say that there shouldnt of been threatening and violent emails as that would not help Lennox’s situation,but who know s if it would of made a slightest difference if they would of gave him back to his family..Poor Poor Lennox hope you and your family find each other and get some comfort soon,lets hope you havent died in vain and this can help others in your position..
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i owned 5 pits, and they were the sweetest dogs to own. they were protective of children, loyal, comforting, and yes, the best guard dog ever. and yes, they are terriortal,as well as they should be.
its a shame that they took it upon themselves to kill a dog, when they have no knowledge of the breed. they are responsible for being closed minded, and believing that all pits are dangerous. for those of you that don’t remember the “vic” case, the foot ball player, he was sentenced to 3 years for having dog fights, which are illegal. and teaching them to fight. when the spca went to retrieve these pits, they were horrified @ the condition of these beautiful dogs. the spca were in awe that these pits were afraid of people, true story. all of the pits, except one were adopted and are in good homes, and not one of them have been violent with their new owners.lesson to be learned” never judge a book by its cover, this goes for the breed of pits, they are not vicious, unless they are trained to be. another example is a judge named “judge judy whom also has the same mind set “that all pits should be killed” so much for the intelligence of the so called” higher power” the law in norther ireland that was passed banning all pits, needs to be repealed, and only the people of ireland has that opportuinity to do this. pit bulls are not dangerous.
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I ashamed for you, killers! Sorry Lennox!
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LENNOX we will Never 4’get you
– deep in ❤ of HUMANS –
This unfair Procedure is international known, also that BCC (Belfast City Council) ordered to kill your live / when this happened we still not know…
BUT we will not give up till BSL is killed, everywhere / worldwide!
Sending hugs 2 your sister WICCA ❤
(RIP)
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