Whenever I hear the name Belfast
I remember Lennox.
Purrrr I bin heering bout dis breed specific legislation (BSL).
Poor Lennox was kept in isolation for over TWO years in deplorable conditions because the United Kingdom has decided that the phrase "dangerous dog" refers not only to certain behaviors, but even to certain breeds. Read a list of Dogs that are banned in the UK. To make it worse, dogs only have to vaguely resemble banned breeds to be subject to seizure and destruction.
Lennox's family exhausted all legal recourse. The case went to the high court and the judge said to kill the dog. Euthanization - likely by the same individuals who have been neglecting Lennox for the last two years - occurred this morning. His body likely shows the neglect and abuse. Don't count on the Barnes family getting to bury their baby.
Two major dog trainers, Cesar Millan and Victoria Stilwell, offered to take Lennox completely out of the UK and rehome him. The Belfast City Council wouldn't cooperate - they just wanted to kill Lennox. The BCC has an axe to grind, that's for sure, but for the life of me I don't know what it is. I can only HOPE they aren't taking a stand against service animals for children.
The Millan Foundation Joins Fight to Save Lennox
Lennox’s Last Chance By Victoria Stilwell
Who's next?
Beloved Petey the Pup
of The Little Rascals and Our Gang comedies,
UKC registered in 1936 as a Staffordshire Terrier.
Fatal attacks represent a small proportion of dog bite injuries to humans and,therefore, should not be the primary factor driving public policy concerning dangerous dogs. Many practical alternatives to breed-specific ordinances exist and hold promise for prevention of dog bites. (J Am VetMed Assoc2000;217:836–840)
The Centers for Disease Control,
Breeds of dogs involved in fatal human attacks in the United States between 1979 and 1998
BSL MUST be replaced with intelligent laws pertaining to obedience training, to behavioral interventions, and to prosecuting irresponsible owners.
Update:
Dog trainer and celebrity Victoria Stilwell has taken a stand against Breed Specific Legislation. Let's give her our support.
I will not rest until the Dangerous Dogs Act is changed. It is a highly flawed piece of legislation doomed to fail right from the start and targets innocent dogs and families. It does not protect the public from dangerous dogs. I and thousands like me are going to work hard to get the law changed. I have helped shape the recently passed Responsible Dog Owner Law in the State of Georgia, USA. The new law puts the emphasis on owner irresponsibility rather than targeting any particular dog. Hold owners accountable and enforce tough laws on those who abuse them. We can do the same in Britain and other American states. This will make people a lot safer from all dangerous dogs regardless of breed than the DDA and will only prosecute the guilty while protecting the innocent.
Another Update:
Victoria has posted an audio file to her site.
Victoria Rebukes BCC Representative on the Radio
Thanks to TVAcres.com for the picture of Petey.
