After 2 Year Battle, Lennox the Dog Put Down by Irish Court Ruling

Poor pup. I am not a fan of pittbulls, simply because of the number of very irresponsible people breeding them out there who have no idea what they are doing. But this dog was obviously a beloved family pet and not dangerous. For the courts to put him down when so many experts offered to save him was nothing more than mean, senseless and spiteful. Did they ever DNA test him to see what his actual breed makeup was?

Our pitbull "type" Ginger (Staffordshire Terrier and Australian Shepard) couldnt have been a better dog. We lost her to cancer on May 15th 2012. She was a good girl and loved her boy Ian 11 and her best girl Allie 16. She loved unconditionally , met us everyday with howls and kisses! The neighbors loved her and so did the children of the neighborhood! She would have been 11 August 10th. Pitbulls are made to be mean by malicious owners, not DNA! Shame on you IRELAND AND UK !! Missing her daily in California

Our pitbull "type" (Australian Shepard and American StaffordshireTerrier) Ginger just died on may 15th 2012. Our family could not have had a better dog! She would have been 11 on August 10th. She is so missed everyday by her boy Ian and her best girl Allie our human children of 16 and 11. That dog would do anything for us, she greeted us with howls and kisses everyday! She loved all our neighbors and there children too. Pitbulls are made to be mean by malicious owners, not DNA!!! Shame on the UK! Deborah, greiving still in California.

Lennox was a five-year-old dog of "Pit Bull Type", which is apparently all that is needed to have a dog taken from its family and sentenced to death, according to the Dangerous Dog Act in the UK. By his owner's admission, he feared strangers; but had never harmed anyone; he was neutered, registered, and never out in public off-lead, and, I believe muzzled when his owners took him outside their property. His owners fought to save Lennox for two years in the courts, and finally gave up, believing they could not win and that it would be cruel to prolong his life; since he was held in secret kennels, and they were not allowed to see him. Two experts in animal behavior and dog training evaluated Lennox for the defense, and testified to the court that they believed Lennox was neither vicious nor a danger to the public; and one 'expert' (a police dog handler who had previously concluded that Lennox was dangerous) testified on behalf of the prosecution that Lennox was dangerous. Lennox's family asked to be allowed to see Lennox to say goodbye to the dog they had loved and cared for for five years, but were refused. Their 14-year-old daughter asked to have Lennox' collar returned to her as a keepsake; and was refused.

There were several offers to rehome Lennox in the United States, by Cesar Milan, Victoria Stillwell, and a dog sanctuary, Milan and Stillwell's offers at their own expense. All were rejected; I believe it would have been legally possible for the courts and/or the Belfast City Council to allow Lennox to go.

Lennox did display warning behavior in the kennels and during one of the evaluations, when he was stressed, but did not bite when he could have. He was condemned to die because the courts feared what he would do in the future, and for his "type", a sad lesson in the injustice of Breed-Specific Legislation.

Real close to booking our long-held dream - a vacation in Ireland. Wont be seeing it after-all. Bad, bad taste in my mouth. RIP Lennox. Heart felt sadness for the family.

Real close to booking our long-held dream - a vacation in Ireland. Wont be seeing it after-all. Bad, bad taste in my mouth. RIP Lennox. Heart felt sadness for the family.

Have to admit that I am prejudice against pit bulls. It seems that they are involved in a majority of dog attacks. However, my daughter rescued a chocolate lab/pit bull puppy. She is a wonderful dog with a gentle, loving personality. I think that she got the lab personality and was raised in a situation of pure love.

Keep in mind folks that Northern Ireland, which is run by the british, is completely different than the rest of Ireland. Specifically responsible for this sad and unnecessary act is the Belfast City Council, who insisted they were upholding their Breed Specific Legislation. BSL is an inaccurate, and misguided attempt to protect the public from dangerous dogs, and has no significant clinical evidence supporting it. Many are currently fighting to end BSL where it exists in the United States. You can learn more here: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Stop-BSL/54038162966

Keep in mind folks that Northern Ireland, which is run by the british, is completely different than the rest of Ireland. Specifically responsible for this sad and unnecessary act is the Belfast City Council, who insisted they were upholding their Breed Specific Legislation. BSL is an inaccurate, and misguided attempt to protect the public from dangerous dogs, and has no significant clinical evidence supporting it. Many are currently fighting to end BSL where it exists in the United States. You can learn more here: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Stop-BSL/54038162966

Poor pup! How CRUEL and DUMB!!!!!!!!!!!!!