Lennox "Freed" from Isolation 7-11-2012 (some graphic pictures)

I just can not go on with my day today without officially giving my condolences to Lennox's family, and providing information to people about this very tragic story.  Lennox is just one of many unfairly lost due to Breed Specific Legislation practices not only in his country, but other counties including the USA.  

I had unfortunately assumed that others, especially those in the dog profession were already aware of this ongoing tragedy that started two years ago and with an ending many did not want on 7/11/2012 at 7AM (by official reports, although that is in question). One day browsing through Facebook, this picture came upon me (I don't for the life of me remember how exactly).

I got curious.   I figured probably this little girl had a dog that had bitten someone or been at large around her neighborhood.   Then as I delved into this, the scope of what was happening hit me, if what the owners were claiming was true (and no one has disputed the events leading up to Lennox's seizure by the Belfast City Council in Northern Ireland).

Therein started the family and friends campaign on Twitter, Facebook, and the Web to save their dog.  (Later I will link to the the site with the details of this story.   Right now, the officially reported day after Lennox's "humane" demise the bandwidth on these sites has been exceeded.  More proof of how many did not know the details in this very important case.   Important, because this happens all around us everyday, but not usually with a family that will go all out to fight for their dog and gather supporters.   This is not a story about a dog with a bite history at all.   This is a story about a family pet, a measuring tape, and being seized because his measurements were within the "Pitbull Type Dog's" definition.)

For those of you who don't think this can happen to you or your dog?  This is from Denver.  Those are a whole lot of Lennox's that are illegal there.   They are not napping in this photo.

Curious about areas that this can and does happen in the USA?  Understand A Bull (seems like they may not be updating this anymore) had/has a large amount of data by state.   I used to reference this if I would go out travelling anywhere.   Although Maine does not allow for Breed Specific Legislation, people who work for Maine have tried to go around this by trying to introduce legislation that puts mandates and restrictions on dogs of a certain size.   So this still has the potential to go deeper down the rabbit whole by penalizing good dogs and responsible owners with tragedies just based on the look of their dog and NOT their actions or irresponsibility.   It is truly an insane situation that we find ourselves in as dog owners.   Don't have a Pitbull Type dog? Don't feel so safe, many times they try to fit various breeds into that definition.   Also, many breeds fall under other communities Breed Specific Legislation.   Not to mention, your neighbor may have such a dog that you like, your daughter, your mother, or your friends.  

You may even be struck by such a tragedy going on with strangers overseas, like the Barnes family and Lennox.   I was very touched because they did not give up on their dog.  Honestly, I figured with all their work, that they would get their dog back in the end (you know alive and whole).   Since May of 2010 until July of 2012, this family fought to keep their dog in the hearts and minds of strangers.  Here is what Lennox's girl wanted for Christmas:

At that time, many were thinking this was a distinct possibility (that his owners would get him back possibly by that Christmas).  Unfortunately this was not to be.   Lennox was seized due to his measurements on a tape measure and then kept in deplorable conditions for the next two years as his loyal loving family fought for his life.  The life of a dog without any prior incidents and owned (by all known accounts) by responsible loving dog owners.

There is a lot you can find out about this online, although today, most of the sites have exceeded their bandwidth as more and more people find out about this tragic outcome.  There are pictures of the dog warden interacting with Lennox after she said the dog was vicious.   She was up close and personal with her face to an unmuzzled dog, and not in the way someone would handle a dog they were afraid of or thought was unpredictable.   There are pictures showing the deplorable state he was in after seizure by the Belfast City Council.  

Today this video on YouTube has been linked of interactions with Lennox, the dog warden and an "unknown man":




I sincerely hope you do not have to be a dog trainer or canine behaviorist to see this is not how one would interact with a "vicious and unpredictable dog".   There seems to be much more documentation out there that this was a nice family pet, then any documentation by Belfast City Council that this dog was an actual danger to the community.

This tragic event makes me very much feel for the Barnes family. I am so proud of them for fighting for their dog and not giving up. Rest in Peace, Lennox. Many of us wanted so much better for you.
  

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