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Lennox, Belfast death row dog attracts worldwide attention

Owners say their sentenced pit bull is a victim of 'racism'

DARA KELLY,

IrishCentral.com Staff Writer

Published Monday, October 3, 2011, 7:13 AM

Updated Monday, October 3, 2011, 1:12 PM

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Lennox, as a puppy, at home in Belfast

The plight of Lennox, a pitbull sentenced to death for being a danger to society, has garnered the attention of pet lovers around the world.

The six-year-old dog was brought into the north Belfast home of the Barnes family when he was just a puppy, reports the Belfast Telegraph. The dog is the pet of 12-year-old Brooke, who suffers from chronic asthma.

The story of how Lennox ended up on death row started back on May 19, 2010, when Belfast City Council dog wardens called at the Barnes home for a routine check regarding an expired license. Senior dog warden Alexandra Lightfoot noted that the pitbull was acting aggressively and claimed that the dog was "bounding on all fours" and hit her in the face with his muzzled jaw, sending Lightfoot crashing to the ground. The dog was taken to council kennels.

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Caroline Barnes, a former veterinary nurse, set up the website www.savelennox.co.uk, which has attracted attention worldwide.

The Save Lennox Facebook page has 44, 470 supporters, while 106,217 people have signed the Save and Release Lennox petition. Things took a disturbing turn, however, when threatening letters drenched in petrol were delivered to two female dog wardens' homes. Yolanda Elwood has been the victim of abusive emails and has had the windows in her home smashed and her car tires slashed. Her son was also subjected to abuse.

While there is no record that Lennox has ever bitten anyone, pitbull terrier-type dogs are banned under the Dangerous Dogs (NI) Order 1991 and it was decided he should be put down.

On March 29, at a hearing at Belfast Magistrates Court, District Judge Ken Nixon ruled that the dog’s “total unpredictability” made it a danger to the general public under the Dangerous Dogs (NI) Order.

The Barnes family say that Lennox is an American bull cross and is being put to death simply for the way he looks.

"If this was a human we would declare this racism," stated their petition.

"We ask every kind hearted person for your support, don't let them murder him."

Dog warden Alexandra Lightfoot said that from the thousands of dogs she has encountered in her 25-year career as a warden, Lennox was “probably the most unpredictable and aggressive.”

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Boxerangel | Jan 23, 2012, 09:25 AM EST

whatlsinaname you are obviously something to do with the case.. and sick as the injustice poor lennox has had is disgusting and animal cruelty at its worst!!!

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markck68 | Oct 19, 2011, 11:10 PM EDT

FYI everyone! Pitbulls throughout history have been used for many purposes! They have been trained to hunt, trained to race, trained to fight and also trained to "NANNY". They have been trained throughout history to watch over children. Any dog can attack for what seems like no reason! Lets not forget that Lennox has been DNA proven to not be bred from a pitbull line. I know many dogs that are taken out on walks wearing muzzles. It doesn't mean that they are dangerous! Stop relying solely on what you see in the press and do your own research! Do you really think that the press is going to print an article on the pitbull that won't stop cuddling and licking people! That won't sell papers!

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JoyMarie | Oct 15, 2011, 11:38 AM EDT

I think this is evil, this dog looks exactly like one of my three puppies and they are NOT PIT BULLS, THEY are labs mixed with bulldogs, HOW DO YOU KILL ANYTHING BASED ON THE WAY IT LOOKS? ARE PEOPLE NEXT, ISN'T THAT WHAT HITLER DID? BLUE EYES BLOND HAIR? The Dog warden in Belfast needs to be euthenized because he is a LIER AT LEAST HE COMMITTED A CRIME, I personally will never visit Belfast if this is what they do there, and will tell my friends to do the same, maybe they will kill us too because they don't like the way we look. I saw the Youtube videos and this dog has done nothing to hurt anyone, you who are doing this will burn in hell at your judgment day and I hope I witness it because you are demons and evil.

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quincygirl | Oct 14, 2011, 01:33 AM EDT

I know and she knows she lied about Lennox. I hope it haunts her for the rest of her life. I hope everyone involved with putting this dog down are haunted. It sounds like at the end of this article that there is to be no appeal. Is that true? In the morning he is being put down?. Here comes the tears. Tears for Lennox and tears for his family. ANGER at the Belfast City Council. I hope the whole city is outraged and let them know it. I hope I am wrong about this appeal being turned down.

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Tia1441 | Oct 11, 2011, 10:23 AM EDT

Lennox is NOT a Pitbull. The woman dog warden is known to have committed perjury having lied in court. There are photos of her kissing and cuddling Lennox after saying he is the most aggressive dog she has ever worked with!!! The 'training' methods used to test Lennox would have made many dogs growl out of fear. If all he did was growl, Id say he was tolerant in the extreem given the circumstances he was in. Lennoxs owners are experienced, responsible, articulate people. They had him chipped, registered and under control always. This is not disputed. Lennox is innocent of any aggression or ill behaviour ever. This is simply wrong in every way for him, his owners and the child that lives with him, loves him, depends on him as she is unwell, and has done for 6 years.

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oneworld | Oct 06, 2011, 01:54 AM EDT

Raveraglen 'common sense' would surely see that if the case switched from being 'possibly' a dangerous type of dog to one of 'an unpredictable' dog during the time he was in the confinement of the Belfast Council, they A: Realized that they had no grounds for a case against the dog as 'dangerous type' and B: If they had felt he was unpredictable when taking him into their care, why wasn't that used as the reason for taking him? Plus, have you seen the many photos of him being entirely loving and trusting with the warden who claimed in court that she couldn't get near him? As for 'murphy666' below, typical childish response from the team who are always so swift with points of law when it suits them in their attempts to demoralize and dishearten but really, just simple minds, in truth.

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Ravaraglen | Oct 05, 2011, 06:36 AM EDT

When we lived in Bermuda the pitbull was eventually banned. From being imported or cross-bred on the island. Hardly from malice toward pet owners. The cases of unprovoked vicious attacks: On Postal staff delivering mail, tourists on mopeds or walking it's otherways safe roads--at the King Edward Hospital in Hamilton outweighed sentimentality. I'm not talking strays here. Nor was there public outrage at the ruling. We've all had and lost pets in various ways in childhood. In place of brandishing a Campaign in my opinion, the Barnes family in Belfast could best serve their child's maturity that occasionally things happen for the better in the long term. Common sense informs if Lennox had to be muzzled when taken for a walk by it's owners "just in case" and muzzled when strangers came to the house "just in case" it begs the question "Just in case WHAT Mr and Mrs Barnes?" How does the child feel on having a pet that might bite a best friend from school?

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oneworld | Oct 05, 2011, 01:44 AM EDT

Ellen, I had a rescue dog who was the kindest, sweetest creature ever. Never once growled, never retaliated when (twice) attacked by other dogs. She lived a totally anger-free life but she had a habit of eating cats mess (the vets believe because of her diet in previous home) which would then give her serious stomach problems the next day. I had to use a muzzle to stop her doing this, it was the only way. Please, please don't think that just because a dog wears a muzzle they must be aggressive. I would have most likely felt the same way before that little sweetheart came to me, but it simply isn't true.

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Prayerful | Oct 04, 2011, 11:56 AM EDT

Irish Central, WHY do you keep calling him a Pitbull when it has clearly been proven that he IS NOT a Pitbull?

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Prayerful | Oct 04, 2011, 11:54 AM EDT

and PS: It was PROVEN in court that the dog wardens DID indeed lie, PROVEN beyond doubt.

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Prayerful | Oct 04, 2011, 11:50 AM EDT

For those who can't read: Lennox has been DNA tested and PROVEN to be NO PART Pitbull. He is a Lab/American bull dog mix. American Bulldog is also NO PART Pitbull. This case is NOT about a Pitbull, in any way.

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whatISinAname | Oct 03, 2011, 07:56 PM EDT

I just discovered something fishy. I just found out from the save Lennox website that Lennox loved the dog warden so much that he took out a million Euro life insurance policy on himself naming the dog warden as beneficiary. I now change my opinion.

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whatISinAname | Oct 03, 2011, 07:38 PM EDT

Ahhh, sentimentality and speculation. I am thankful it does not rule the court system....yet.

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ellenfromcork | Oct 03, 2011, 07:02 PM EDT

That dog didn't have a muzzle on for no reason.

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mamaginnty | Oct 03, 2011, 05:27 PM EDT

All because a warden did not like a dog jumping up on her, maybe he put paw marks on her nice clothes, the dog was muzzled, as is the law there. Getting a pitbull from a good breeder and you get the silliest, friendliest, softest dog you could find. My little mongrel would take the hand of a stranger who stole him from his family. Judges have too much control over who lives or dies, human or animal. Demand a trial by jury, that would bring a happy ending I am sure.

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