Lennox spends another birthday on death row

Whether he’s mostly pit bull, mostly Labrador or mostly bulldog, Lennox has definitely become an Irish setter.

For almost two years now, the Belfast dog has been sitting in limbo, as courts in Ireland decide whether to euthanize him.

Seized by Belfast City Council dog wardens in May 2010, due to his likeness to the banned pit-bull breed, Lennox recently celebrated a second birthday on death row, and supporters marked the occasion by sending birthday cards to him — in care of the Lord Mayor of Belfast

His owner Caroline Barnes, who is appealing a court ruling to put him down, says Lennox is a American bull dog-Labrador mix who, in addition to never having bitten anyone, is a best friend of her disabled daughter.

Last October, in the latest development in the long-running case, a judge upheld a court decision that Lennox should be put to sleep.

The decision to terminate the family pet prompted an online Save Lennox campaign, which has generated almost 60,0000 Facebook supporters and almost 127,000 signatures of support. Barnes started the birthday card campaign as well.

Belfast City Council confirmed to the Belfast Telegraph that it had received a number of cards for Lennox wishing him a happy birthday. (It was April 1.)

“Just wanted to say a huge thank you for all the wonderful, beautiful, supportive and very creative messages and artwork received over the past few days,” Barnes said on the “Save Lennox” Facebook page. “Really means a lot and it has touched our family very much. Thank you all.”

The next hearing in the case is scheduled for May 24.

Posted by jwoestendiek April 11th, 2012 under Muttsblog.
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Comments

Comment from vida
Time April 11, 2012 at 6:50 pm

Why can’t they just let this poor dog go home? Is it that hard to back down when you’re wrong? Here’s hoping it’s not long til he is back with his family.

Comment from Michael Haslam
Time April 11, 2012 at 9:03 pm

One of the great injustices of our time, at least the campaign has highlighted the injustice of BSL and forced the Northern Irish Assembly to finally pass an ammendent to allow dogs to survive if they can be proved to be safe. Many dogs are alive and released now due to Lennox but he’s paying the price for embarrassing the council.

Comment from Julia Mathon
Time April 14, 2012 at 12:04 pm

Hello, everyone. Over the last few days I have been thinking about how Lennox’s case can get more attention. It is being ‘mentioned’ on April 20, and there will be a hearing on May 24. As I think this is the last chance he will get, I am wondering if those of you who live in Belfast could actually go along to the Courts on those dates to give Lennox and his family support. I hope this isn’t true, but I read somewhere a while ago that very few people are turning up for his hearings, and as this is probably the last opportunity he will have, he needs the most visible support necessary. Correspondence, emails, Facebook and Twitter can be swept under the carpet, but if there are hoards of people inside and outside the courts on these dates, maybe the Courts will realise how many people really care about this case and won’t dare not to be lenient. Lennox’s case has helped so many other dogs that it would be tragic and terrible if it does not have the outcome we all want. PS. There must be lawyers reading this page – could anyone tell me what this ‘mention’ is, as I can’t seem to find a decent explanation over the Net. Thanks.

Comment from Susan Dupree
Time April 21, 2012 at 7:38 am

Please don’t put Lennox down. I know you have a hearing on this coming up soon. I will I could show up for support to not put Lennox down. He does not look like a pit bull. That’s another issue entirely. The pit bull is not the problem, it is the owners of pit bulls. I saw this on Facebook and am writing in support of saving Lennox’s life.

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