It’s a sad day for animal lovers everywhere. Lennox, whose unjust imprisonment made him a worldwide phenomenon and garnered the support of hundreds of thousands of people, was killed this morning by Belfast officials.
This lovely image courtesy of http://www.pointypix.com/2012/06/ignorance-is-real-danger.html.
Lennox only crime was that he “resembled” a pit bull. He was wrongfully incarcerated, forced to sit alone in a feces-strewn cage for two years, denied the chance to see his family, then killed.
And let me remind journalists and officials everywhere – he was not “put down”,”euthanized” or “put to sleep” (all of which imply an action of mercy). He was KILLED.
THIS is the consequence of breed discrimination. THIS is why we must end BSL everywhere.
Across the world, hundreds of thousands of advocates rallied to save Lennox. Experts (including celebrity trainer Victoria Stillwell) evaluated him, deeming him safe. Many offered to step in and help, but despite countless offers of alternative solutions, the council insisted on killing him. Their decision will not be forgotten.
Stillwell made an excellent statement against BSL that we’d all do well to remember following Lennox’ death:
“BSL makes innocent dogs the criminals because of how they look, regardless of their actual temperament. Your money, taxpayers’ money, is being spent by councils to seek out and confiscate these breed types, taking innocent family members away from their families, rather than tackling the real issue of dangerous dogs. If Belfast City Council and other governments like it really want to keep a community safe, go after the irresponsible owners who either raise their dogs in a violent manner, do not socialize them or integrate them into society in any way, allow their dogs to wander off leash and do not heed any warning signs or make any attempt to curb aggressive behavior. Seek to penalize them to the full extent of the law, and protect your citizens by addressing the issue of dangerous dogs of all breeds, not spending your tax payers’ money on taking innocent dogs away from their families because of the way they look.”
In a twist that gets my blood BOILING, one “vet” told the BBC that Lennox advocates were in fact “causing problems” by sending letters to individual vets regarding the case.
Redirecting the blame – a standard tactic by killing apologists.
RIP Lennox. Let’s hope that out of your tragic death comes a steadfast resolve to end breed discrimination and BSL in all its forms. Miami – August 14 is your chance. Strike down your ludicrous legislation in the name of Lennox and all others like him.
Can somebody explain to me why, as is normally the case in most rescues across the U.S., why Lennox was not allowed to be adopted by someone who lives outside the BSL regulations? Does the British Government forbid these dogs (Dogs whose origins hail from their country) nationwide and even if that was the case…surely with the attention this case garnered, international adoptions were offered?
Hi Becky,
Absolutely, international adoptions/rescues were offered. But Belfast seemed determined to kill him, despite dozens of viable alternatives. RIP sweet boy.
What could they possibly have hoped to gain from this?
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