PDA

View Full Version : Death sentence for Lennox



porshiepoo
29-Mar-11, 17:50
The judge delivered his death sentence this afternoon and we're just waiting to hear if an appeal has been lodged.
Can't believe this was allowed to happen based on what he looks like. His litter mate was deemed a labrador cross by one of the same wardens that claim Lennox is Pitbull type and yet the judge still found in favour of BCC.
The owners had him registered with BCC since a pup, had him DNA's (which proves he's not pitbull), neutered him, kept him muzzled, and have followed all BCC guidelines for 5 years.
Lennox has never bitten anyone and has never shown an ounce of aggression, he was seized with a warrant meant for someone else and deemed Pitbull type due to a measurement and still the judge ruled in favour of BCC.

Words cannot express our feelings - well they can but I'm pretty sure I'd get a ban on here.

Liz
29-Mar-11, 18:48
I just heard the bad news and am absolutely gutted!:~(

The family are going to appeal once they have got over the stress of the court hearing. We must keep supporting them and even more.

Wish we could get Lennox out of the hell hole[evil] he's in until the appeal.

snow tiger
29-Mar-11, 18:55
Im confused why has Lennox ended with a death sentence, not getting the full story here can you enlighten me thanks

Liz
29-Mar-11, 19:36
Snow Tiger if you go to www.savelennox.co.uk (http://www.savelennox.co.uk) you can read the whole sad story .

To summarise though Lennox is a dog which 'looks' like a banned breed and was seized from his family by Belfast City Council about a year ago and has been kept in terrible conditions ever since and his family haven't been allowed any access.
Today the dog warden lied in court and the judge has ruled that Lennox be pts.

teenybash
29-Mar-11, 19:50
I still feel so devastated...poor lad. Craig and Caroline Barnes will need a couple of days to digest what happened today and hopefully will hear some more of what went wrong....It is sad that the UK cannot step in with expert help but you need a licence to act in NI.....Hopefully the appeal will go through in Lennox favour or whoever presides at the appeal will have some compassion and spare his life, even if it means him being rehomed outside of NI....sad day for a poor wee doggy that has done no wrong.
At the rate of rising support it won't be very long till it reaches 30.000 people from all over the world.
www.savelennox (http://www.savelennox) http://savelennoxpetition.co.uk

unicorn
29-Mar-11, 22:13
I really cannot believe this ruling and I do not think the report UTV have put out helps the case in the least, I was appauled reading it.

merlzin
29-Mar-11, 22:14
i'm devastated,i really thought he would be freed,it makes no sense.:(

teenybash
29-Mar-11, 22:23
Everything in NI had a political twist which makes everything an uphill struggle. USPCA won't even stand up and be counted as I know from personal experience from years back.... sad state of affairs...all we can do is hope the appeal is accepted, though an appeal date could be many months away yet. x

unicorn
29-Mar-11, 22:24
Please watch this video for Lennox http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DU1eKiJZM4k

unicorn
29-Mar-11, 22:30
He has over 23000 supporters on facebook will you join the fight?
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Save-Lennox/125005200853097

therealducati
29-Mar-11, 22:48
I was recently at a conference where Kendal Shepherd (who assesses and defends such so-called “dangerous dogs” in court) was speaking. I was very upset to hear about the conditions that these dogs are routinely kept in. No company from either humans or other dogs, serious medical conditions not diagnosed and no form of play or way to relieve the boredom of being in a windowless cell 24/7. GOK what sort of physical and mental state these dogs are in when/if they do get returned to their owners. I suspect some of them may actually become dangerous as a result of their time incarcerated and the associated trauma. How would your dog deal with living in such conditions?
Apparently the RSPCA/SSPCA/USPCA will not intervene to assess the welfare of dogs seized under section 1 of the dangerous dogs act, even though they are patently not being provided with the “five freedoms”.

Sarah
30-Mar-11, 01:00
Oh no, I can't believe this has ended this way. It's so damn unfair :(

GruesomeTwosome
30-Mar-11, 20:17
I just cant believe this has happened, what kind of world is this.

I wouldnt cope at all if this happened to me.

tazette37
30-Mar-11, 22:55
why cant people see that its not the dog that goes bad its the way its brought up ??? would you put down a naughty kid ???? no !!!!!!
lennox looks a lovley dog and is missed badly by his owners ........
shame on these people who have singled out a familys pet who has done nothing but love the family back !!!!!
hope he survives this kkk style of torment and can go home where he belongs .... xx

dbooth82
31-Mar-11, 11:08
THIS IS A DAM SIN ,HOW DARE THEY ,I HOPE HE COMES BACK TO USES SAFE AND WELL,THIS IS SOOO BAD ,i watched the video and cryed am a dog lover and this is more than a sin i hope they cant sleep at night ,i heart goes out to use and him

Margaret M.
03-Apr-11, 00:30
This case is sad beyond words. I really hope the appeal works but I don't feel too optimistic. Would they allow Lennox to be taken out of Norther Ireland?

Ash87
06-Apr-11, 13:28
This story is just so sad and unfair. If he has never been aggressive or been complained about then what on earth is the problem??? There are thousands of dogs out there who are intimidating/act aggressively that the police are very reluctant to do anything about, yet Belfast Council seem to have targetted him for no reason. How awful for the poor owners, and of course for Lennox :(

teenybash
12-Apr-11, 22:46
An appeal for Lennox has been accepted and a date is yet to be sorted. Sadly this could be months away, so his suffering will continue as will his family. Young Brooke who is disabled has been in and out of hospital for the past three weeks and the torture this child is going through is unbelievable as to add to her health problems, she is now having councelling as she has started self harming......Thank god the Scottish government adopted Deed not Breed to save famillies going through this nightmare.
http://savelennoxpetition.co.uk The petition now has over 46,000 signatures and celebrities are now joining the fight.
It is just so wrong.....this lovely boy has never set a paw wrong and because of the way he looks Belfast want him put to death
Sad, sad, sad.

Dadie
12-Apr-11, 23:26
Unfortunately due to his treatment when incarcinated, Lennox may never be the dog he was beforehand.
Lack of human contact and socialisation with other dogs and animals will not help his situation, and may end up in his death sentence, as he wont be used to the norm after his incarcenation.
Sad outcome for everyone as within the appeal proccess etc the dog is not socialised.

porshiepoo
13-Apr-11, 11:22
Unfortunately due to his treatment when incarcinated, Lennox may never be the dog he was beforehand.
Lack of human contact and socialisation with other dogs and animals will not help his situation, and may end up in his death sentence, as he wont be used to the norm after his incarcenation.
Sad outcome for everyone as within the appeal proccess etc the dog is not socialised.


Have to say that I did worry about the same conclusion however I do believe that most dogs have the ability to be rehabilitated, especially if they were calm, balanced dogs beforehand. Whether the Barnes will be equipped to deal with that rehabilitation I'm not so sure as I don't know what experience they have. I suspect that if Lennox is eventually free'd that the judge may order him out of NI anyway.
A big concern at the moment is how much longer this appeal process will take as Lennox is just being subjected to more isolation and inhumane living conditions.

teenybash
13-Apr-11, 18:48
Lennox appeal date is May 4th........at the moment there is nearly 47.000 signatures on his petition which will be agreat comfort to Caroline and Craig Barnes, his owners.
They have been talking with Victoria Stillwell over the past few weeks who is openly supporting the case along with other celebs.
The Barnes family foster doggies and Caroline herself is a veterinary nurse. Cesar Milan has also mentioned the case and the fact there is no bad breed.......fingers crossed the outcome is good even if Lennox has to leave NI till Deed not Breed is adopted...There have been thousands of offers to look after him outwith NI till he can go home...offers from Denmark, the Netherlands, South Africa, America, Scotland, Southern Ireland to name a few.......Praying the Gods will smile on him and he is freed.

Liz
13-Apr-11, 19:40
It is heartening that Lennox and his family are getting much more support now and I hope and pray it won't be long before he is free. Hopefully, with his family where he belongs.

I've signed the petition and sent messages to as many people as I can and not sure what else I can do? Any suggestions Teenybash? xx

teenybash
15-Apr-11, 21:44
May the 4th is not the appeal but the date the family returns to court for the appeal date to be set.
Liz you are doing everything that can be done...we are all in the same boat and just spreading the word whatever way we can. Thank goodness Scotland has took the sensible and compassionate option of Deed not Breed. x

Liz
15-Apr-11, 22:35
May the 4th is not the appeal but the date the family returns to court for the appeal date to be set.
Liz you are doing everything that can be done...we are all in the same boat and just spreading the word whatever way we can. Thank goodness Scotland has took the sensible and compassionate option of Deed not Breed. x


Yes I realise that and just hope the actual appeal won't be too far away as can't bear the thought of Lennox being stuck in that concrete prison! :(

Yes it's such a good job we live in Scotland and we are especially fortunate because we have a dog warden who really cares.

binnes
07-May-11, 11:39
Yes it's such a good job we live in Scotland and we are especially fortunate because we have a dog warden who really cares.

Very true - the Irish dog situation is truly tragic and this is just another case where bureaucracy rules over common sense.

Has there been any news on this yet?

porshiepoo
07-May-11, 12:09
The councils rep didn't turn up at the court so the appeal date couldn't be set. As far as I'm aware there hasn't been another court date set yet to set the appeal date, could be wrong by now though!

porshiepoo
07-May-11, 12:16
My concern now is just for Lennox. How much longer is this poor dog going to be expected to be kept in kennels away from human or canine interaction? I sincerely hope that his best interests are forefront and that this campaign doesn't continue just because it's gotten too big or because no one wants the warden to win. Lennox has to come first.
The awful thing would be if when he's released he reacts aggressively and doesn't settle well. The BCC and warden would jump on that band wagon and every dog in this situation would find appeals go against them.

No one likes the thought of Lennox being PTS. It's unnecessary, cruel and mindless. However, the same could be said about the conditions he's being expected to survive in at the moment. They are not conducive to a happy, healthy environment for this breed of dog - or any dog - and I think if it were me I would have to seriously consider who I'm fighting for now and whether this is really the best or kindest thing to my dog.

Dadie
07-May-11, 12:37
If it was my dog I would hate to say, but, I think my time limit would be 6 mnths max.
Especially due to the conditions they are kept in while in "prison".
After that I would concede that even though the dog has done nothing wrong, its wrong to keep them in those conditions any longer, and I would let them put the dog down.

Leanne
07-May-11, 12:39
There are some things in life worse than death and the conditions the poor dog is living in is one of them. What mental state is the poor dog going to be in if it is ever returned home. The owners will not be getting back the same dog they loved :(

porshiepoo
07-May-11, 17:48
Totally. TBH I don't think the dog will go back to the owners. Judging by what is being said and past cases he may be released to southern Ireland, if he actually wins an appeal.

I really do feel for this family and thank god I haven't had to go through anything like this with my dogs but I honestly think I would be saying enough is enough. They can't even get access to poor Lennox to determine for themselves how he's coping and what his temperament is like now.
If he does win an appeal I hope the owners have enough common sense not to rush the dog with hugs in the belief he'll be the same dog that was taken from them last year - could end in disaster!

I'd be interested to hear from others who have won similar cases to see what impact they feel the incarceration had on the dog. If Lennox was being kept in a different environment with daily human and canine interaction and stimulation I'd be the first to say that the fight should and must go on. Sadly I'm feeling more and more like this poor animal is becoming a campaign figure rather than a real mercy case.

Hopefully the courts will show some humanity and force BCC to attend for an appeal date.

unicorn
07-May-11, 22:48
I would have to agree poshie, this dog has been through so much heartache now, who gives these people in power the right to abuse animals like this, the whole case is so so wrong, but Lennox will never be the same dog he was.
I support this case to the hilt but I fear Lennox has been through hell and it really has to stop one way or the other.

teenybash
08-May-11, 01:35
It is all so sad that an innocent family and pet dog are going through this and to complicate matters, it's happening in NI.
I know the Barnes's have family in England who are willing to take Lennox until the time comes when NI sorts out their dogs law which is missing an important bit of legislation, that would have meant Lennox could have been freed within weeks.
Another dog called Bruce was held for 3 years by NI and at the 11 hour was released into the gaurdianship of EGAR in southern Ireland.
If Lennox beats the death sentence and I truly hope he does, he will recover from his ordeal and become the happy well adjusted dog he once was......I have no doubt on that. xx

porshiepoo
08-May-11, 09:36
It is all so sad that an innocent family and pet dog are going through this and to complicate matters, it's happening in NI.
I know the Barnes's have family in England who are willing to take Lennox until the time comes when NI sorts out their dogs law which is missing an important bit of legislation, that would have meant Lennox could have been freed within weeks.
Another dog called Bruce was held for 3 years by NI and at the 11 hour was released into the gaurdianship of EGAR in southern Ireland.
If Lennox beats the death sentence and I truly hope he does, he will recover from his ordeal and become the happy well adjusted dog he once was......I have no doubt on that. xx

I so hope and pray you are correct.
I do understand the families need to fight this case, it was and is unjust and no one likes the thought of an innocent animal being snatched at the whim of a warden and being legally held in such conditions away from any human or canine interaction.
Obviously all animal lovers and pet owners are disgusted that this can and does happen and I understand that we need to stand up and fight it. I get all that and I admire the Barnes for their tenacity and their determination.

But, my thoughts always trail back to that poor animal, caged alone and in solitude, eeking out his days with minimal human contact and no canine contact (as far as we are aware) and I can't help feeling that allowing him to stay in those conditions is as cruel and unjust to him as his seizure was on the family.
There are no reports coming out from an independent dog behaviourist to let the Barnes know how he is coping and what his temperament is like at the moment. While it could be argued that he's thriving in those conditions, after all he is canine and creature comforts are not in his genetic makeup, it's the isolation that will do the damage. He will depend entirely on himself for survival, people may become a source of fear for him and to expect him to revert back to his pre seizure self may just be expecting too much. I'm not suggesting that he can't be rehabilitated, perhaps he can, but how long does any loving owner allow their pet to be kept in such cruel conditions?

This is no longer about BSL in NI, or about who is right or wrong, or the fact that the warrant was illegal or even about the fact that the Barnes kept the dog legally and responsibly for 5 years prior to his seizure. Those points are relevant to his case yes but they have no impact on the dog right now.
It should now be about what is in the best interests of Lennox.
The least the courts should insist on is an evaluation of Lennox by an expert of the Barnes undertaking, if only to satisfy the Barnes that Lennox is as well as can be expected and is capable of withstanding the next few months in isolation. Crikey they haven't even been told exactly what interaction he is getting - why they won't make that info available to them is beyond me. Surely the person who has been assigned his care would want to make sure he is getting at least some form of socialization? or are BCC hoping for Lennox to bite in order to back up their mess?