A charity organization, BARK (Benvardin Animal Rescue Kennels), has addressed the public in order to put an end to vicious messages being received via Facebook in connection with the death of Lennox the dog.

The charity somehow got targeted and became wrongly caught up in the row surrounding the destruction of the alleged pit-bull type dog, Lennox, who was put down earlier this month by Belfast City Council.

BARK had no other choice but to state the facts on their Facebook page. The statement said: ‘It is with deep regret that I have to post this on Benvardin Kennels Facebook site.

“Over the past number of days since the destruction of Lennox … we at Benvardin Kennels have received many threatening messages via facebook, mostly made in the early hours of the morning.

“We cannot stress enough that Benvardin Kennels have never had anything to do with the kenneling of Lennox. We at Benvardin have no idea where Lennox was kept and have no connection with Belfast City Council as stated on various links.

“Benvardin Animal Rescue Kennel was founded in August 2010 as an independent charity dedicated to helping the dogs from council pounds that were destined to be destroyed.

“Unfortunately the allegations we have been receiving are having a massive impact on the valuable work that we do at Benvardin and we would ask that these rumours STOP.”

Louise Neill founded Benvardin Kennels in August 2010.

She set up the charity after the USPCA who had been based at Benvardin vacated the site. Louise was the former shelter manager for the USPCA. BARK is a fully registered charity and are totally self funding.

Earlier this month, Lennox was confirmed an illegal pit-bull terrier type dog by Belfast City Council and had been put down after the expiry of the deadline. Legal appeals came flooding in surrounding the decision which attracted a global campaign of support.

200,000 signatures were supporting a reprieve and emotions and tensions were ran high over recent weeks.

Staff at Belfast City Council were targeted for intimidation by some supporters.

One Belfast councillor even received a death threat, along with other workers who have become the target of a fresh series of intimidating and threatening messages in relation to the destruction of Lennox the dog.