Death sentence for Lennox

[porshiepoo]

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]

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 he's in until the appeal.

[snow tiger]

Im confused why has Lennox ended with a death sentence, not getting the full story here can you enlighten me thanks

[Liz]

Snow Tiger if you go to 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]

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://savelennoxpetition.co.uk

[unicorn]

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]

i'm devastated,i really thought he would be freed,it makes no sense.

[teenybash]

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]

Please watch this video for Lennox http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DU1eKiJZM4k

[unicorn]

He has over 23000 supporters on facebook will you join the fight?
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Save-L...25005200853097

[therealducati]

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]

Oh no, I can't believe this has ended this way. It's so damn unfair

[GruesomeTwosome]

I just cant believe this has happened, what kind of world is this.

I wouldnt cope at all if this happened to me.

[tazette37]

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]

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.]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.