News Article Ireland - Does he live or die? Lennox decision expected on Friday

Belfast, Ireland - Judge Derek Rodgers is expected to decide on the fate of six-year-old American bulldog Labrador cross this Friday. Last week Caroline Barnes, 35 denied allegations that her dog is dangerous and capable of attacking without warning.

The tragic story of Lennox began on May 19, 2010 when Lennox was seized by the Belfast City Council under the dangerous dog act for Northern Ireland. The Council deemed Lennox a "Pit Bull Type" and ordered the dog euthanized. There was no professional evaluation ever done to confirm Lennox as being a pitbull. Barnes appealed the decision.

Lennox was removed from his family's home, and since then a worldwide campaign to reunite Lennox and his family have set the Internet globally in a fury of indignation toward one dog being judged soley on his "looks." What makes the story even more heartbreaking is the 11-year-old severely disabled daughter of Caroline Barnes who wants her service dog Lennox back in her arms. Last Christmas the little girl sent a letter and picture to Santa depicting an empty kennel and tears of sadness begging Santa to bring her dog home.


During two days of testimony, dog handler Peter Tallick testified for the prosecution and said Lennox was "unpredictable." Other testimony for the prosecution proved inconclusive and contradictory, however they continued to allege Lennox is an accident waiting to happen.
Caroline Barnes described the dog's loving relationship with her daughter, and stated any anxiety issues that Lennox may have had were caused when "strangers forced themselves physically on him." Barnes testified that "all dogs have four legs; they all have teeth and they all have capabilities."

Barnes had previously been a veterinarian's assistant and had fostered and cared for dogs in the past. She stated she would never have a dangerous dog near her daughter.
The Save Lennox facebook page now has 43,838 fans anxiously awaiting Judge Rodgers decision this Friday. One Facebook fan Cheryl Zimmerman wrote:

"My birthday wish is that on Friday Lennox will be playing in his back yard, back in the loving arms of his family."

If you have not signed the petition to free Lennox please click here to sign. There are 104,586 signatures.
There are just a few more days to make your voice heard in support of Lennox. Please pass this message on, and hope that Lennox is finally set free.

Continue reading on Examiner.com Does he live or die? Lennox decision expected Friday - National Pet Rescue | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/pet-rescue-in-national/does-he-live-or-die-lennox-decision-expected-friday?CID=examiner_alerts_article#ixzz1ZGtr2MMf

I really hope this dog gets to go home. And I agree, this dog should of never been taken in the first place.

More on Lennox:

http://ctechwebhosting.co.uk/savelennox/wordpress/?p=128

Ireland should embrace it's native son rather than try to exterminate it. I have no clue what this dogs' lineage or temperament may be, but what is today's American Pit Bull Terrier did have ancestors that originated from the Emerald Isle. I think this should be celebrated as a source of national pride.

Lennox's family lost the case but....

This just in:

The family has a 14 day window in which to present evidence to the judge proving that he may have missed a legal loophole

Contacts:

https://email.number10.gov.uk/Contact.aspx

Chief Executive's Department
Belfast City Hall
Belfast
... BT1 5GS

Telephone: 028 9032 0202
Textphone: 028 9027 0405

Email: generalenquiries@belfastcity.gov.uk

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Save-Lennox/125005200853097

Check this out:
The Trial Of Lennox ( the new old drum)

Posted by flip195 on October 1, 2011
If ever there was a time to abolish breed specific legislation it is now.
On 30th of September 2011 in Langanside Courts Northern Ireland Judge Derek Rodgers made the absurd ruling that Lennox the now 6 year old Labrador/Am-Bull mix, was to be executed because there is a possibility that one day he may possible bite someone and in HIS OPINION, Lennox is unpredictable.
Those of us that have been close to the case are not only shocked at his thinking, but angered beyond words.
Court rulings are supposed to be based on fact, and evidence, not beliefs, lies, and bias, so let us look at a brief synopsis of what was put but for the judge.
• Three dog wardens told 3 differing accounts about Lennox seizure.
• 1 dog warden who was photographed with Lennox (see below) said she was afraid of him and he was the MOST aggressive dog she had ever handled. (Her actions in the photographs below tell a different story. If I was afraid of a dog I would not be letting it lick my face, grabbing the dog’s jowls and putting my face in his.)











• Accounts were given that Lennox had attack 2 people (dog warden and council’s expert) although NO proof of such attacks was shown and when pushed the dog warden admitted Lennox had never injured/attacked anyone. Videos were seen showing Lennox being thrown around on the end of a catch pole, but there were no videos of any alleged attacks.
• Self-proclaimed Dog expert witness Peter Tallack (who had a melt down on the stand because, “people were looking at him”) gave evidence that Lennox was of type and unpredictable. Mr. Tallack has NO qualifications as either a dog trainer or behaviorist, started out his career as a PC Dog Handler, and ended his career as a PC Dog Handler. He is now retired, but admitted to getting paid 3500 UK sterling (that is approx. $5500-$6000) per consultation. During his evidence he told the court, it is totally acceptable to KICK, HIT, and BITE a dog when training it. He also stated Lennox lunge 4 feet into the air at him from a laying down position. (That is quite some extraordinary achievement even for the most agile of animals.) As a parting shot, he told the court that the owner should not have such a powerful dog as she is disabled with arthritis and walks with a limp.
• The court heard that Lennox was not of type.
• He was not aggressive.
• He has NEVER injured anyone.
• Expert witness Sarah Fisher (17 years as a animal behaviorist and trainer TTouch practitioner told the court Lennox was in fact a friendly dog, if not a little insecure in circumstances strange to him, but in no way was he aggressive.
• Lennox is 6 years old.
• Has never, to this day, bitten, threatened or attacked anyone.
• Is neutered.
• DNA registered.
• Insured.
• Is kept on a short leash and is always muzzled when exercised.
The dog wardens turned up in court even though they were told they need not. As if to commit one final act of harassment they sat next to the family. (It was almost as if they knew already, what the outcome was to be)
So in summing up evidence:
A dog warden who has already been proven to have lied in court.
A self-proclaimed expert who really isn’t an expert and has a very base knowledge of dogs in general,
=V=
A real expert with 17 years’ experience in the field.
A dog who in spite of being pushed beyond all reasonable limits, in 6 years, has STILL, never attacked/bitten/injured anyone.
A totally responsible, educated owner, who has done EVERYTHING right and then some.
A wrongly addressed warrant.
THIS is what the judge based his order of execution on.
HE THINKS Lennox is unpredictable, therefore he must die.
It is my opinion that the judge is either a coward who wants to be seen as being politically correct, or there is something very corrupt in Belfast.
? Harassment of the family has been ignored.
? Perjury has been ignored.
? A wrongly addressed warrant has been ignored
? The very nature of the dog and his past history has been ignored.
? The law, as in, the intent in which it was written, has been ignored.
? 106,000 signed a petition and have been ignored.
? The fact Tallack is NOT an independant witness has been ignored (he is paid 3500 pounds per consultation and only appears for the prosectution, that is NOT independant)
Yet they say Lennox is unpredictable.

http://flip195.wordpress.com/category/lennox/

The dog warden is a liar!

Latest:




The owners of north Belfast death row dog Lennox are set to lodge a last-ditch appeal to save his life.
On September 30, Judge Henry Rodgers dismissed owner Caroline Barnes’ appeal to spare the six-year-old dog, who has been branded too dangerous to live.
The family were given 21 days to study the Belfast County Court judgement and consider if there was a point of law on which they could make a final appeal.
The 21 days before the dog faced death would have been up tomorrow but last night a council source indicated there will be a further stay of execution.
It’s understood the family have found a point of law that they now want to be considered by the court.
A spokeswoman for the Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland told the Belfast Telegraph it has been indicated to the court that an appeal will be lodged by tomorrow.
The September 30 decision not to spare Lennox resulted in widespread anger among dog lovers across the globe.
A campaign to save his life had spread around the world, with supporters on every continent.
Within minutes of the appeal case ending, thousands of Lennox fans from the UK, Ireland, America, Australia, Canada and elsewhere were online voicing their horror and outrage at the court’s decision.
Ms Barnes, a former veterinary nurse, has worked tirelessly to spread the message of Lennox’s plight and has generated worldwide interest through her Save Lennox website.
She insists that Lennox is an American bulldog cross and not a banned pitbull-type dog.
There are now 116,646 signatures on the petition to save the dog, who has been separated from Ms Barnes and her 12-year-old disabled daughter Brooke for more than 520 days.
An internet and email campaign to have the dog freed and returned home has been running since the case hit the headlines.
Story so far

Lennox was picked up by Belfast City Council dog wardens in May 2010.
Officers had called at owner Caroline Barnes’ home to check the dog’s licence when it was said to be acting aggressively. Belfast Council seized the dog and he has remained in their custody since.
Under the Dangerous Dogs (NI) Order 1991, pitbull-type dogs are a banned breed.

Read more: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/owners-in-final-bid-to-save-death-row-dog-lennox-16066302.html#ixzz1bLQyepcI

RIP Lennox. Run free and be happy...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-18408152

Very sad. I guess he may only have hours or days left. All that's left to do is the deed.