41 Comments

• IrelandNorth | Jul 16, 2012, 07:04 AM EDT

  If execution of a Pitbull terrier was a folly, what does that make the summary execution of 14 innocent civil right protestors in Derry by British Army 1 Parachute Regiment? Is a dogs life now more valuable than 14 working class Irish Catholic nationalist/republicans in NI? PS NI isn't a province, and therefore Donnelly Group aren't province wide. Pitbull terriers aren't reknown for their pacifism.

• IrelandNorth | Jul 16, 2012, 07:04 AM EDT

  If execution of a Pitbull terrier was a folly, what does that make the summary execution of 14 innocent civil right protestors in Derry by British Army 1 Parachute Regiment? Is a dogs life now more valuable than 14 working class Irish Catholic nationalist/republicans in NI? PS NI isn't a province, and therefore Donnelly Group aren't province wide. Pitbull terriers aren't reknown for their pacifism.

• MichaelC | Jul 15, 2012, 06:41 PM EDT

  I hope everyone who emailed and called the Belfast City Council to save Lennox will continue to call and email their offices for the next month or so to remind them how pathetic they are. I have more respect for a dead dog than any of the BCC members.

• TREE | Jul 15, 2012, 01:17 PM EDT

  All those killers that are responsible for the death of an innocent animal must get the same punishment: 2 years in the deathrow with a bad maltreatment and after that put to death on "the same "HUMAN" way. You MURDERERS You are CURSED by your own Karma and you will notice this in the future !

• MaryC | Jul 15, 2012, 12:15 PM EDT

  What's next? Kids with certain eye color will be deemed dangerous? There is no predator more dangerous than a human without a conscience.

• Bluecat | Jul 15, 2012, 07:35 AM EDT

  The headline says the saga has divided the public. Right-- divided into those who can see past the flimsy lies in the pathetic public statement issued after BCC murdered this innocent dog, and those who readily swallow anything they put out. They spun it that they were "simply carrying out the decision of the courts" but when contacted, the court spokesperson said it was up to them whether they chose to spare Lennox. Yes, BCC did have that choice open to them up until the minute they murdered him. If I were a citizen of Belfast, I would be extremely concerned that no one, not even the First Minister, can sway their vindictive decision once their authority has been challenged. Even if I didn't have a dog. Even if I never wanted a dog. One might even see it as a small, totalitarian regime. This City Council sure showed the world who's boss. They're not going to be pushed around by some woman posting things to the internet for the world to see. They're not going to cave in to the pressures of a bunch of loony animal rights extremists. Look, they don't even have to listen to the First Minister! Isn't he supposed to have some kind of authority? If they don't have to answer to anyone, I think I would be greatly concerned.

• Bluecat | Jul 15, 2012, 07:20 AM EDT

  "This dog could have been saved with a softly softly approach and a "donation" at the start and got him out of NI". I think sirpeter is absolutely right. How dare Caroline Barnes think she would get justice just because she had the truth on her side? Who does she think she is, publicly exposing the workings of Belfast City Council? Especially when they were holding her beloved dog hostage, and they could do anything they wanted with him? Which they did. Because they could. This case was not about Lennox or illegal breeds or public safety at all. It was about corruption and abuse of petty power of the Absolute Authority of the Belfast City Council. Their minds were made up, don't confuse them with the facts! A bribe in the right place goes a long way-- take their "expert witness" for example, former pooper scooper, I mean police dog handler, who probably got his pub bill paid off in exchange for stating that this was one of the most "dangerous and unpredictable dogs he had ever seen". Seen the assessment tape? Was it his habit to try to goad a dangerous dog into an act of aggression without muzzling him, or without hand and arm protection? This was the Council's witness, bought and paid for. The dog warden who testified she was "terrified of this dog", seen in photos and video petting Lennox and him licking her face. A payoff, a promotion. This fish stinks from the head down. Why did the judge at the appeals hearing not recuse himself- he was the one who heard the original case? Not likely he would overturn his own ruling. Why refuse to admit DNA evidence that proved Lennox was not an illegal breed? Why not allow testimony from TWO actual accredited behaviorists that showed a nonaggressive dog? Why has BCC allowed other families of dogs being held as illegal breeds to visit their dogs in custody, even released them back to the families? Hate to bring that up, they might go recapture and kill them. But they have.

• sirpeter | Jul 14, 2012, 09:17 PM EDT

  shywiseowl.I feel sorry the dogs life was cut short.But you wouldn't be that wise an owl to have a discussion with me about this.I despise all dog owners.A dog by it's very nature is never truly domesticated.So it's natural instincts and natural freedoms are always curtailed by their selfish owners.No animal wants to be a pet.

• janekey1947 | Jul 14, 2012, 12:14 PM EDT

  The BCC are claimimg they are being threatened. They threatened Victoria Stilwell ( It's me or the dog) when she offered an indepednent examination of lennox. Their advisor who claimed Lennox was "the nost dangererous dog he had ever seen" said he would take a cash settlement from Victoria Stilwell. There is video evidence of them taunting Lennox to make him bite them but he didn't ( also on youtube ) The Barnes family were model sog owners and Lennox was a model dog. Thank you America for printing his story. The British press ignored him Today, I am ashamed to be British.

• AGRIPPAMOM | Jul 14, 2012, 09:26 AM EDT

  I've thought for some time that Lennox was already dead, or, if not, so ill they DARED not allow anyone see him. The last pictures of him showed extreme loss of hair, sores all over his body, a neck injury, and that he was ill- all due to the inhumane mistreatment and torture he received at the hands of those dog wardens. What happened to him MUST be investigated and those responsible brought to light, including everyone involved in the cover-up. The BCC and its minions think because they've continued to lie and have some of those lies repeated, often unchallenged, by the media (such as him being a 'pit bull type') they'll continue to get away with it. They are VERY MUCH mistaken.

• corkkerry | Jul 14, 2012, 09:21 AM EDT

  fiasco, sorry

• corkkerry | Jul 14, 2012, 09:17 AM EDT

  Unfortunately, this fisasco explains a lot about Northern Ireland...

• janekey1947 | Jul 14, 2012, 07:43 AM EDT

  an inquiry needs to be held in order to bring Justice to lennox and his family. The Dog warden's office clearly committed perjury, The Belfast City Council were offered homes in the US for lennox but it is my firm beklief he was akready dead. The world watches. BSL must be amended in memory of lennox

• Mama Kat | Jul 14, 2012, 03:41 AM EDT

  A good dog was put to death due to ignorance and stupidity

• L.M. Ashley | Jul 14, 2012, 03:05 AM EDT

  Shame on all the BCC for their lies and inhumanity, Lennox was not a threat, he never did harm to anyone. And shame on the ignorant, prejudice members of the public who believe the hype about Pit Bulls instead of educating themselves with the truth about this breed.

• KLIN | Jul 14, 2012, 01:23 AM EDT

  I HOPE THAT THIS MAN MAKES SURE THE RESPONSIBLE PEOPLE ARE MADE TO SUFFER FOR LENNOX'S DEATH. OBVIOUSLY HE HAS SOME POWER AND PERHAPS SOME HEADS WILL AND SHOULD ROLL...THIS ENTIRE SITUATION IS SICKENING. THE FACT THAT THERE WERE SO MANY PEOPLE WANTING HIM AND WANTED TO TAKE HIM TO THE USA...AND THEY REFUSED TO ALLOW IT....ONLY LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT LENNOX MET HIS MAKER LONG AGO..AND THEY HAVE BEEN LYING TO EVERYONE FOR A LONG TIME....RIP LENNOX..YOU ARE AND HAVE BEEN LOVED BY MANY, MANY ALL OVER THE WORLD !!!!!!!!

• vicar1985 | Jul 14, 2012, 01:01 AM EDT

  Peckerhead politicians

• Seafleet546 | Jul 13, 2012, 11:57 PM EDT

  It just goes to show why the Irish have the reputation of being as thick as s**t the dog was known to be a Lab/Bulldog cross that does not make it a pitbull!! The Irish "Expert" just dragged the nations reputation back to the gutter for intelligence!! RIP Lennox rot in hell the expert who isnt!! The dog never attacked anyone it seems so your self importance as an expert got it killed. I am so infurited to read this article but councillors are not known for being intelligent either

• VGailPrice | Jul 13, 2012, 11:40 PM EDT

  The councils claims that there was no safe alternative to the public for Lennox is a bold faced LIE. Can you really tell me that in N. Ireland they do not know the credibility of Victoria Stillwell, that they honestly have never heard of VRC or Dogtown here in the states. This dog could have (albeit without good reason) been placed in a SAFE statuary here in the USA and lived out the rest of his life. As far as their claims of him being dangerous... I say there full of ..well never mind I'm trying to be civilized here. *Sirpeter* did you watch the video's did you see the pictures of him licking the faces of the wardens, have you noticed that in NONE of these was Lennox ever muzzled *for their protection* People who still believe politicians are truthful and that their authority makes them right, even when there wrong are a huge part of these issue's and goes right to the heart of why good dogs, with responsible owners are dieing and the dog men and abusers get to pay no price and keep hiding out their hoards of dogs. PLEASE if you supported Lennox's cause while he was alive please honor him now by fighting BSL everywhere <3

• sirpeter | Jul 13, 2012, 11:30 PM EDT

  @Flick and Occassio.So the question here is was the Council's expert unqualified?And if he was unqualified did he STILL have the authority to put the dog to sleep/kill.If he had the authority then he had the authority.In other words it was his call.Weather he was right or wrong in his judgement is irrelevant.The High courts upheld his authority.This is an animal first and foremost with limited reasoning and limited rights.That means the authorities could never be 100% sure the dog was always going to be harmless.The authorities chose the safe option.The more the authorities were backed into a corner the more they had to choose the safe option.At the end of the day like a doctor with a patient the first rule they learn is do no harm.They killed the dog so it had no chance of doing any harm.I'm sad for the dog but the more I think about it the more I think they did the right thing.They are the ones in authority and they have hundreds of other dogs to make a judgement on.If you don't like their judgement or think you can judge better apply for their job.

• jedder | Jul 13, 2012, 11:14 PM EDT

  Well, I'm an expert. The majority of this council have appendages that could make them potential rapists.. We must lock them up for the publics' safety.

• shywiseowl | Jul 13, 2012, 11:04 PM EDT

  sirpeter so you support the killing of innocent dogs who were bred to help disabled children like Lennox's owner? The fact this dog was bought for a disabled child is more than enough proof that it was anything BUT dangerous, you, Peter are the fool in this conversation, not jbdean, you do not have the right to have to word sir before your name, that is the truth.

• shywiseowl | Jul 13, 2012, 11:01 PM EDT

  I agree with jbdean, this is disgusting behavour from the council, if you did this here in NZ you would be thrown out and a new council elected. SHAME on you from lennox supporters in New Zealand.

• sirpeter | Jul 13, 2012, 10:50 PM EDT

  @jbdean.Sorry I'm listening to Flick and Occassio.You are one of the hysterical misguided emotional fools I'm talking about.

• chaplainmiles | Jul 13, 2012, 10:47 PM EDT

  Those bullheaded Belfast people, made a violent decision that can never be reversed. Lennox fits the complete description of a black lab, not the above photo that seems to be enhanced to enlarge the appearance of the dog's face and head. to make him look more like a pit bull. LIARS! Look at a legitimate photo of Lennox and it can be seen that this is a lab. His family, who had him and loved him for 7 years without ANY incident of bad behavior, have stated that absolutely, he is a lab. And how cruel for authorities to block the family from visiting Lennox and even saying 'goodbye' to him. Makes me ashamed to be Irish. Rev. Austin Miles

• jbdean | Jul 13, 2012, 10:43 PM EDT

  "The council has claimed some of its members have received threats from campaigners and so they have been in contact with the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) with regard to the threats. " They murder an innocent family pet and then complain about death threats? Wow, what hypocrites!

• jbdean | Jul 13, 2012, 10:40 PM EDT

  Why deny the family a last goodbye? Why deny them the body? Why send only some ashes? All of these questions need to be answered in depth because each of them is very suspicious as to the real circumstances surrounding Lennox's death. Surely his dead body can pose no threat to society so why not let them have it? Could they prove by it that he had been dead long before July 11th? Could it be that it would prove that he had died due to mistreatment. Denying the family the body screams suspicion and if First Minister Peter Robinson really wants to do some good ... he should get to the bottom of these questions. I am confident that once these are answered we will see how dishonest this council is and some heads will roll and laws will be changed for the better.

• jbdean | Jul 13, 2012, 10:32 PM EDT

  @SirPeter ... You, "sir," are a fool. You take these mere WORDS as proof? They have shown NO photos to prove this, NO video, NO other "witnesses" to sustain this claim. And yet Lennox's family has supplied ample photos, video and witnesses to attest to just the OPPOSITE of this claim. The dog was a SERVICE DOG for a CHILD for goodness sake! Do you honestly think that this kind of temperament could be a service dog? If Lennox EVER displayed any aggression it was due to the horrendous conditions he was being kept and the denial of any interaction with his family, that had been his only family since he was a puppy. Put a man in solitary and he, too, will turn violent even if he's had no previous bouts of it. Do your homework before you take a mere statement from those that MURDERED Lennox. What did you expect them to say? "Lennox was a sweet, lovable dog that we murdered because he LOOKED like he might be vicious one day." Really, no one can take your post seriously that has followed this case for 2 years as I have. In fact, your post is insulting!

• Flick | Jul 13, 2012, 10:21 PM EDT

  Sirpeter: The "expert" was unqualified. I'm more qualified to judge a dog's behavior than he is, simply by having owned dogs for over 40 years. Also, no child should EVER be left alone, unsupervised, with ANY dog, ANY breed, even a toy size. So no, I wouldn't leave my child alone with Lennox or any other dog. Period. Not too long ago in the U.S., a Pomeranian killed a baby. Since somebody was willing to transport Lennox to the U.S., and place him in a sanctuary situation if necessary, it was particularly cruel of BCC to kill him anyway. Especially on the rantings of a completely unqualified "expert," Lennox's record of not being a problem dog, and his body measurements. Bushmanirish: I'm sorry you've had such bad experiences with pitbulls. It sounds like you've had the misfortune to run into a lot of bad owners who allow their dogs to run loose. Some - by no means all - pitbulls ARE aggressive towards other dogs. However, the same can be said of many other breeds, and certain individual dogs of every single breed in existence. One thing that needs to be clearly understood is that aggression towards dogs and aggression towards people are two entirely different and unrelated behaviors. They can both be present, or either one without the other, or neither, in any dog of any breed. This was most vividly illustrated by how most of Michael Vick's fighting dogs were easily rehabbed into nice family pets.

• occassio | Jul 13, 2012, 09:11 PM EDT

  By the way, what qualifications and experience do these officials have?

• occassio | Jul 13, 2012, 09:08 PM EDT

  Sirpeter, Your question (regarding the dog and a one year old) is argumentative and ignores the fact that for all intents and purposes Lennox was not, again was not, an aggressive dog. Lennox and Brooke grew up together for seven years without incident. Also, the Council’s expert was not an expert. Had the BCC and their dodgy entourage been open and above board, they would have allowed Lennox to be inspected by experts -- real experts – and allowed Lennox to be placed with a family outside the U.K. That offer was made but refused by the BCC. At any rate, no animal should be considered for euthanasia without proper inspection. We have reason to be emotional about the unfeeling and brutal treatment of an animal whose veteranary records were up-to-date and whose history was clean. However, we are looking at the facts and sussing out the issues. I hope the Belfast/U.K. media will shed some light on this event. I've sent my email.

• sirpeter | Jul 13, 2012, 07:44 PM EDT

  "The Council's expert described the dog as one of the most unpredictable and dangerous dogs he had come across" No matter what breed of dog it is that statement alone should warrant any dog to be put down.This dogs case went to Northern Ireland's highest courts.Knowing what the Council's expert said.The question ye should ask yourselves is would you have left your 1 year old child alone with this dog for the night if ye took him home.If ye would then ye are too stupid to make a judgement on this dogs temperament OR ye are just a pack of liars.I don't think ye are liars.Just a bunch of hysterical misguided emotional fools.The authorities can't be seen to listen to a bunch of hysterical emotional rabble.This dog could have been saved with a softly softly approach and a "donation" at the start and got him out of NI.But ye all killed him.Lennox says~~Thanks for nothing.

• croneshome | Jul 13, 2012, 06:23 PM EDT

  I too live in the southwest U.S. There are a lot of pits here I agree, probably due in part to the drugs and gangs. I have owned two Pitties myself and would take another in a heartbeat. Please look at the history of this breed and stop listening to the media (how often do they report anything good?), these are fantastic dogs if they have fantastic owners. Criminals are not responsible or caring owners. Get the bad owners off our streets and there will not be any bad dogs Pit or otherwise. My question regarding Lennox is if he was not a Pit, rather a bulldog/lab mix there should have been no holding him at all

• pctrgal | Jul 13, 2012, 06:19 PM EDT

  This truly saddens me. My heart goes out to Ms Barnes and Lennox. The members of the BCC that are responsible shall forever have this to live with they are murderers! I don't see how they can look at themselves in the mirror or look their own pets in the face. You cannot put to death one dog or animal or person because of something that someone else has done. Stereotyping/Predjudices is a sin as far as I am concerned! This is no bettter than the Holocaust or Slavery. BCC you will burn in hell!

• bushmanirish | Jul 13, 2012, 06:09 PM EDT

  Here in the southwest part of the U.S. we have thousands of pit-bulls. Personally, they scare me because I've had dogs who were severely injured by pit-bulls. Way too often they kill young children or maim them and even adults. But - I didn't see any behavior of this sort in Lennox. Am I missing something?

• seanomelb | Jul 13, 2012, 06:08 PM EDT

  More time given to a dog than the job crisis in the six counties.

• aloistmartin | Jul 13, 2012, 05:23 PM EDT

  The Time to put your Reputation on the Line, is before a Crisis, not after It ! Mr. Big Pockets Public Servant ! Or was that His Highness Burger King @?..!

• sandradeclue | Jul 13, 2012, 04:56 PM EDT

  What the BCC did was reprehensible to me, qualified Dog Behaviorist completely disagreed with BCC's so called Expert on the nature of the Dog. His Pride and Ego made him turn his nose up at them. Just shows what kind of people were involved in this case. I think BCC should be investigated for wrong doing in this case. There is more going on in this case than meets the eye and it should be made transparent. I smell a cover-up underway, and believe the Politicians in this matter have broken more laws than the poor animal ever could. None of the BCC's actions make any sense in the matter unless there is something they are trying to hide. I am against threats and intimidation and that means on the part of BOTH sides.

• Jill Shotwell | Jul 13, 2012, 04:16 PM EDT

  This is infuriating! I saw the video of that warden calmly stroking and petting Lennox! She knew there was not a vicious bone in his body! I know there is still BSL (bulls**t-if you ask me) still here in the US, but many of us are trying to change that! However, Lennox was held for TWO years from a loving family. That is cruel and inhumane to both, the dog, and the family! I have to agree with the comments below...you people sicken the world! We have MANY pitbull Therapy dogs in the US, go visit their Facebook pages! There is Gremlin, and the Stig, there is Elle. I do not know how many have pages, but numerous "pibbles" have pages. If these dogs were inherently vicious, how could they become THERAPY DOGS ALLOWED IN HOSPITALS TO COMFORT PATIENTS??? If someone could just answer that question, I'd shut up, and sit down, but it isn't gonna happen. The fact is that NO breed is born inherently vicious, none, not one! I will not shut up and sit down until that warden is tried for perjury and thrown in jail! Until the entire BCC apologizes to the Barnes family for their incredible lack of ethics. The world is NOT going to forget! For the first time in my entire life, I am embarrassed by my Irish heritage. (My maiden name is an 'Mc' name. I will say again that I prayed, cried, and cried, and lit candles for poor Lennox. I never believed that God would let it happen.

• Judy Sexton | Jul 13, 2012, 02:55 PM EDT

  "Follow the LAW"???????? They still refuse to admit their cruelty and disposal of Lennox! Did Lennox break the LAW somehow? He was half Labrador, remember? I will never forgive or forget this one....ever.

• Lunadavis | Jul 13, 2012, 11:38 AM EDT

  Where's the body BCC? Did your lackey Dog Warden's get rid of it after their abuse and neglect killed the poor thing? You people sicken the world.