help save lennox - YorkieTalk.com Forums

bellemarie · 11-18-2010, 07:19 PM

On the 19th May 2010, Lennox, a five year old American Bull dog Labrador cross was wrongfully seized by Belfast City Council Dog Wardens from his loving family home where he lives with his owners and his kennel mates. Lennox committed no crime nor did any member of the public complain about him. Three Belfast City Council Dog Wardens came with the PSNI to his home unannounced. The Dog Wardens then told the Police to leave as there was no need for them at the location. The Belfast City Council Dog Wardens then had tea with his owners, smoked cigarettes, chatted, played with the other family dogs after which the Dog Wardens then measured Lennox’s muzzle and rear legs with a dress maker’s tape measure and decided on those measurements without seeking any professional advice that he was possible “Pit Bull Type Breed” and so he was led from his home to be put to death by the Council. Northern Ireland has yet to fully implement the same dog legislation as mainland UK; if Northern Ireland were to complete the dog legislation here then Lennox could now be at home with his family and they would not now be facing legal prosecution. The USPCA said the law in Northern Ireland could be changed simply and rather quickly by an order in Council.

Lennox’s family have done more than required by the law as responsible dog owners who also foster dogs for various Northern Ireland dog shelters. When Lennox was a puppy his owners had him neutered, licensed, insured, DNA registered, Pet Safe registered and micro chipped and although the Belfast City Council have issued a dog licence for Lennox for the last five years and continue to do so today, the Council now find the need to class him as a Pit Bull type dog and murder him. On the day Lennox was ripped from his family home the Belfast City Council issued his owner with a warrant of seizure which was incorrectly addressed and was for another location, furthermore the Council used the ADBA Inc (American Dog Breeders Association Incorporated) breed standards guide to help identify Lennox as possible Pit Bull type. It has now become clear that the Council used this ADBA breed standards guide illegally breaking international and Berne copyright laws as Belfast City Council have never been authorised by the ADBA to use the copyrighted breed standards guide in full or derived version. Since Lennox’s seizure the ADBA have issued the Belfast City Council with ‘Cease & Desist’ orders due to the Council’s unauthorised continued use of ADBA material.

Lennox’s owners have only been contacted once by the Belfast City Council and this was two hours after Lennox had been taken. One of the Dog Wardens who seized Lennox telephoned Lennox’s owner to say “If you do not sign him over to us to be destroyed then you will most certainly lose your job as we will force a prosecution upon you through the courts.” On many attempts the family have telephoned the Council’s Dog Control Manager but to date the Manager has never taken the families call or returned any calls. Lennox’s family have never been told where he is being kept, what condition he is in, what type of care, feeding or regular exercise he receives, if any. Lennox’s family have repeatedly requested visitation to see what condition he is in however the Dog Control Manager for Belfast City Council Dog Wardens Department has continually refused all requests through the families Solicitor. Photographs of Lennox have emerged recently and have been passed to the family which clearly show Lennox in a cold inhumane concrete kennel which is visibly too small, there are no visible signs of a constant fresh water supply, heating, toys for stimulation and the photographs show Lennox sitting upright in a box type bed surrounded by his own faeces with only saw dust for bedding which many dog experts have agreed is harmful to dogs and unsuitable for bedding, yet Belfast City Council Dog Wardens Department have stated they practice humane animal welfare as set out by the DARD (Department of Agriculture and Rural Development). After studying the Animal Welfare Act 2006 it is clear that none of Lennox’s welfare needs are being met at this undisclosed Council contracted kennel.

Local leading MP’s joined in support of Lennox stating in the Belfast Telegraph and other media they were “Appalled” by the seizure and treatment of Lennox and his family. A global campaign which boasts hundreds of thousands of supporters and petition signatures has begun in support of Lennox’s freedom. The ADBA Inc, various Animal Rights groups, Animal Welfare organisations, Veterinarians, Dog Breed and Behaviourist Experts have all gave their support for Lennox’s freedom and many supporters who are regular tourists to Northern Ireland have went further to state they will not return to Northern Ireland until Lennox is returned to his home. The most heartfelt plea of all was heard from Brooke, the owners eleven year old Daughter who is registered disabled. Lennox grew up around Brooke and the two became inseparable. Due to Brooke’s illness she is unable to play each day with other children and so found Lennox to always be there as a playmate and someone to be of comfort to her. Since her best friend was taken Brooke has missed much School due to suffering health and unneeded stress caused by missing her dog. Brooke’s specialist Doctor at Belfast Royal Hospital for Sick Children has also expressed growing concern for the child’s separation from her pet.

We ask for your help to Save Lennox, stop his incarceration and stop him from being put to death by Belfast City Council who wrongfully took him. If you have any compassion you will clearly see that far too many wrongs and errors have been made by the Council in the seizure of this much loved family pet and you will help correct a wrong. Please help this little girl become reunited with her best friend.

copied from the site set up by his family at SaveLennox.co.uk

bellemarie · 11-18-2010, 07:26 PM

this is all down to badly trained animal control and poorly written legislation that should have never been originally enforced never mind letting this madness continue... they have him dna registered!
i know there isn't a lot that many can do, but if you could spare a minute or two to go to his site, see his pictures etc and take a moment to sign the petition with you views, i know the family would be ever so grateful for your support... there is also a yorkie in the home too- lennoxs fursibling- and he is so gentle they can leave them alone together no problem- yet he is sentenced to death for a long muzzle and legs!
his court date it 23rd november... on that day the court will decide (hopefully swayed by public opinion) whether he gets to go home to his family and the little girl he emotionally cares for (he does help her a great deal) or whether he is put to death.
no family or family pet should be put through any of this, the more people contacting the council or signing the petition, the faster we can end this madness!

thanks for reading the entire rant btw...

joann1166 · 11-19-2010, 10:35 AM

wow! That is unbelievable. So inhumane!

bellemarie · 11-19-2010, 11:31 AM

yea, no wonder puppy mills etc are such a big problem here... when These are the people enforcing animal welfare!

Wylie's Mom · 11-23-2010, 07:54 AM

I sent an email to all of these people (if you want to copy their emails): complaints@belfastcity.gov.uk dogwardens@belfastcity.gov.uk lightfoots@belfastcity.gov.uk elwoody@belfastcity.gov.uk wylies@belfastcity.gov.uk mcnaneyp@belfastcity.gov.uk

Here is the form letter the owner of Lennox provides:

Dear Sir / Madam,

I am absolutely disgusted by the way Lennox and his family have been treated. Lennox, an American Bull dog cross was seized by Sandie of your BCC dog wardens department on the 19th May 2010 from his owner Ms Caroline Barnes at her home in Belfast BT13. You have refused to acknowledge any of her telephone calls regarding her beloved family pet or update her on Lennox’s condition and whereabouts. This poor dog has a loving family and a home, he has done nothing wrong yet you have forcibly removed him and continue to have him locked up in poor conditions. There are many stray dogs across the UK in kennels hoping to be homed and yet you remove a dog for no reason that actually has a loving, caring home. How can you call yourself fair, caring or civilised to do such a thing? To take away this dog with the aim of destroying it for no more than the fact its muzzle and legs are a certain amount of inches long! You cannot judge a dog by its breed or how it looks no more than you can judge a person by their nationality. Do the only correct and humane thing by returning this dog alive and in the same physical condition as when he was wrongfully seized. Prove you are not the uncaring people that the world is now reading about. I would also be grateful if you do not insult me by sending the standardised email reply that you continually send to everyone as below. I request a non standard reply.

Yours faithfully,

bellemarie · 11-24-2010, 07:13 AM

thanks for posting the addresses and letter- i never thought of that!

please everyone; the family will be back in court to fight his case in less than two weeks. every signature and email counts... i know most of you are in different countries, but that can only work in lennoxs' favor! once the council and courts realize that its not just the people of n.i that are outraged it may help end the injustice of the DDA!

let BCC know that the world is watching!

bellemarie · 11-26-2010, 06:38 PM

Yet More Council Lies!

and we are supposed to trust these poeple to do right by us and our animals?

please sign the petition! still more needed!

if you wish to be kept fully up to date with lennoxs case, add save lennox to your facebook/twitter accounts- the info can be found on the webpage SaveLennox.co.uk

11-18-2010, 07:19 PM	#1
bellemarie YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: belfast, northern ireland Posts: 520	help save lennox On the 19th May 2010, Lennox, a five year old American Bull dog Labrador cross was wrongfully seized by Belfast City Council Dog Wardens from his loving family home where he lives with his owners and his kennel mates. Lennox committed no crime nor did any member of the public complain about him. Three Belfast City Council Dog Wardens came with the PSNI to his home unannounced. The Dog Wardens then told the Police to leave as there was no need for them at the location. The Belfast City Council Dog Wardens then had tea with his owners, smoked cigarettes, chatted, played with the other family dogs after which the Dog Wardens then measured Lennox’s muzzle and rear legs with a dress maker’s tape measure and decided on those measurements without seeking any professional advice that he was possible “Pit Bull Type Breed” and so he was led from his home to be put to death by the Council. Northern Ireland has yet to fully implement the same dog legislation as mainland UK; if Northern Ireland were to complete the dog legislation here then Lennox could now be at home with his family and they would not now be facing legal prosecution. The USPCA said the law in Northern Ireland could be changed simply and rather quickly by an order in Council. Lennox’s family have done more than required by the law as responsible dog owners who also foster dogs for various Northern Ireland dog shelters. When Lennox was a puppy his owners had him neutered, licensed, insured, DNA registered, Pet Safe registered and micro chipped and although the Belfast City Council have issued a dog licence for Lennox for the last five years and continue to do so today, the Council now find the need to class him as a Pit Bull type dog and murder him. On the day Lennox was ripped from his family home the Belfast City Council issued his owner with a warrant of seizure which was incorrectly addressed and was for another location, furthermore the Council used the ADBA Inc (American Dog Breeders Association Incorporated) breed standards guide to help identify Lennox as possible Pit Bull type. It has now become clear that the Council used this ADBA breed standards guide illegally breaking international and Berne copyright laws as Belfast City Council have never been authorised by the ADBA to use the copyrighted breed standards guide in full or derived version. Since Lennox’s seizure the ADBA have issued the Belfast City Council with ‘Cease & Desist’ orders due to the Council’s unauthorised continued use of ADBA material. Lennox’s owners have only been contacted once by the Belfast City Council and this was two hours after Lennox had been taken. One of the Dog Wardens who seized Lennox telephoned Lennox’s owner to say “If you do not sign him over to us to be destroyed then you will most certainly lose your job as we will force a prosecution upon you through the courts.” On many attempts the family have telephoned the Council’s Dog Control Manager but to date the Manager has never taken the families call or returned any calls. Lennox’s family have never been told where he is being kept, what condition he is in, what type of care, feeding or regular exercise he receives, if any. Lennox’s family have repeatedly requested visitation to see what condition he is in however the Dog Control Manager for Belfast City Council Dog Wardens Department has continually refused all requests through the families Solicitor. Photographs of Lennox have emerged recently and have been passed to the family which clearly show Lennox in a cold inhumane concrete kennel which is visibly too small, there are no visible signs of a constant fresh water supply, heating, toys for stimulation and the photographs show Lennox sitting upright in a box type bed surrounded by his own faeces with only saw dust for bedding which many dog experts have agreed is harmful to dogs and unsuitable for bedding, yet Belfast City Council Dog Wardens Department have stated they practice humane animal welfare as set out by the DARD (Department of Agriculture and Rural Development). After studying the Animal Welfare Act 2006 it is clear that none of Lennox’s welfare needs are being met at this undisclosed Council contracted kennel. Local leading MP’s joined in support of Lennox stating in the Belfast Telegraph and other media they were “Appalled” by the seizure and treatment of Lennox and his family. A global campaign which boasts hundreds of thousands of supporters and petition signatures has begun in support of Lennox’s freedom. The ADBA Inc, various Animal Rights groups, Animal Welfare organisations, Veterinarians, Dog Breed and Behaviourist Experts have all gave their support for Lennox’s freedom and many supporters who are regular tourists to Northern Ireland have went further to state they will not return to Northern Ireland until Lennox is returned to his home. The most heartfelt plea of all was heard from Brooke, the owners eleven year old Daughter who is registered disabled. Lennox grew up around Brooke and the two became inseparable. Due to Brooke’s illness she is unable to play each day with other children and so found Lennox to always be there as a playmate and someone to be of comfort to her. Since her best friend was taken Brooke has missed much School due to suffering health and unneeded stress caused by missing her dog. Brooke’s specialist Doctor at Belfast Royal Hospital for Sick Children has also expressed growing concern for the child’s separation from her pet. We ask for your help to Save Lennox, stop his incarceration and stop him from being put to death by Belfast City Council who wrongfully took him. If you have any compassion you will clearly see that far too many wrongs and errors have been made by the Council in the seizure of this much loved family pet and you will help correct a wrong. Please help this little girl become reunited with her best friend. copied from the site set up by his family at SaveLennox.co.uk __________________ "...She will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of her heart; you owe it to her to be worthy of such devotion..."

11-18-2010, 07:26 PM	#2
bellemarie YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: belfast, northern ireland Posts: 520	this is all down to badly trained animal control and poorly written legislation that should have never been originally enforced never mind letting this madness continue... they have him dna registered! i know there isn't a lot that many can do, but if you could spare a minute or two to go to his site, see his pictures etc and take a moment to sign the petition with you views, i know the family would be ever so grateful for your support... there is also a yorkie in the home too- lennoxs fursibling- and he is so gentle they can leave them alone together no problem- yet he is sentenced to death for a long muzzle and legs! his court date it 23rd november... on that day the court will decide (hopefully swayed by public opinion) whether he gets to go home to his family and the little girl he emotionally cares for (he does help her a great deal) or whether he is put to death. no family or family pet should be put through any of this, the more people contacting the council or signing the petition, the faster we can end this madness! thanks for reading the entire rant btw... __________________ "...She will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of her heart; you owe it to her to be worthy of such devotion..."

11-19-2010, 10:35 AM	#3
joann1166 YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Arab, AL, USA Posts: 1,117 Blog Entries: 1	wow! That is unbelievable. So inhumane! __________________ Charlie & Natalie & Ollie

11-19-2010, 11:31 AM	#4
bellemarie YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: belfast, northern ireland Posts: 520	yea, no wonder puppy mills etc are such a big problem here... when These are the people enforcing animal welfare! __________________ "...She will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of her heart; you owe it to her to be worthy of such devotion..."

11-23-2010, 07:54 AM	#5
Wylie's Mom Furbutts = LOVE Donating Member Moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 35,889 Blog Entries: 2	I sent an email to all of these people (if you want to copy their emails): complaints@belfastcity.gov.uk dogwardens@belfastcity.gov.uk lightfoots@belfastcity.gov.uk elwoody@belfastcity.gov.uk wylies@belfastcity.gov.uk mcnaneyp@belfastcity.gov.uk Here is the form letter the owner of Lennox provides: Dear Sir / Madam, I am absolutely disgusted by the way Lennox and his family have been treated. Lennox, an American Bull dog cross was seized by Sandie of your BCC dog wardens department on the 19th May 2010 from his owner Ms Caroline Barnes at her home in Belfast BT13. You have refused to acknowledge any of her telephone calls regarding her beloved family pet or update her on Lennox’s condition and whereabouts. This poor dog has a loving family and a home, he has done nothing wrong yet you have forcibly removed him and continue to have him locked up in poor conditions. There are many stray dogs across the UK in kennels hoping to be homed and yet you remove a dog for no reason that actually has a loving, caring home. How can you call yourself fair, caring or civilised to do such a thing? To take away this dog with the aim of destroying it for no more than the fact its muzzle and legs are a certain amount of inches long! You cannot judge a dog by its breed or how it looks no more than you can judge a person by their nationality. Do the only correct and humane thing by returning this dog alive and in the same physical condition as when he was wrongfully seized. Prove you are not the uncaring people that the world is now reading about. I would also be grateful if you do not insult me by sending the standardised email reply that you continually send to everyone as below. I request a non standard reply. Yours faithfully, __________________ ~ A friend told me I was delusional. I nearly fell off my unicorn. ~ °¨¨¨°ºOº°¨¨¨° Ann \| Pfeiffer \| Marcel Verdel Purcell \| Wylie \| Artie °¨¨¨°ºOº°¨¨¨°

11-24-2010, 07:13 AM	#6
bellemarie YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: belfast, northern ireland Posts: 520	Belfast City Council... the world is watching! thanks for posting the addresses and letter- i never thought of that! please everyone; the family will be back in court to fight his case in less than two weeks. every signature and email counts... i know most of you are in different countries, but that can only work in lennoxs' favor! once the council and courts realize that its not just the people of n.i that are outraged it may help end the injustice of the DDA! let BCC know that the world is watching! __________________ "...She will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of her heart; you owe it to her to be worthy of such devotion..." Last edited by bellemarie; 11-24-2010 at 07:16 AM. Reason: sp

11-26-2010, 06:38 PM	#7
bellemarie YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: belfast, northern ireland Posts: 520	a bit of a bump. Yet More Council Lies! and we are supposed to trust these poeple to do right by us and our animals? please sign the petition! still more needed! if you wish to be kept fully up to date with lennoxs case, add save lennox to your facebook/twitter accounts- the info can be found on the webpage SaveLennox.co.uk __________________ "...She will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of her heart; you owe it to her to be worthy of such devotion..."