Ernest Dempsey — The hearing of Lennox, the dog held in Belfast, Northern Ireland, is just a few days ahead and it will be decided in this hearing whether the dog’s owner can have another appeal against the dog with no history of aggression but which has been ordered for putting to death by a court in Belfast. A bad sign showed today is in the famous paper Belfast Telegraph regarding Lenox’s trial.
The paper apologized to the Belfast City Council (BCC), i.e. people ripping the harmless dog from his family and labeling him dangerous, for publishing an article titled “So, what’s poor Lennox done to deserve to die?” this year in January. It would have been convenient for all readers and writers to have a look at the article and see how it approached the topic of Lennox’s imprisonment by the BCC. But it turns out that the article page is no more there—either temporarily suspended, or what seems more likely, permanently deleted. We surely can guess from the title and the “clarification” published today that in the earlier article, the paper questioned the dog’s arrest and subsequent order of execution.
The question making the title of the article So, what’s poor Lennox done to deserve to die? speaks for itself. But today’s apology for publishing the article has come as a big disappointment for advocates of free and unbiased media as the paper has openly accepted the baseless allegation that Lennox is dangerous. It reads that since the evidence of the Council was accepted in both the Magistrates Court and the County Court and also that Lennox on account of its breed was a threat to the public. In other words, a paper that once in the near past had questioned the injustice done to a harmless dog has suddenly accepted the controversial decision of the magistrates as valid. This leads animal rights advocates to ask whether this paper has any integrity and boldness to stand by its word.
It is particularly disappointing to note that the original article page is no more visible. For Belfast Telegraph, freedom of speech may not matter. But the fact stands that Lennox was and remains innocent and harmless. However, recently some reports of the intimidating methods of operation of the BCC have come to surface wherein a woman in London has made public the harassment inflicted on her by the BCC officials while the court in Belfast is running a one-sided trial of her without any justification.
Supporters of Lennox are still campaigning for the dog’s release against the authoritative abuse of the BCC by its officials. Lennox’s supporters have already been demanding denying Belfast the Olympic Torch. Belfast Telegraph’s withdrawal of truth and criticism has landed on the spirit of advocates of freedom as a dark cloud. But it is hoped that they will not stagger in their support for Lennox and will remain loyal to the greater cause of justice to the helpless forms of life that are tortured by those who don’t know the meaning of the word “justice”.
This poor baby has done nothing wrong. He is being punished for the way he looks. You guys should be ashamed for the way this baby is being treated. Praying for you little buddy I can’t imagine what your family is going threw. Everyone should be fighting for this baby to go home!
TEXAS HAS BEEN WATCHING THIS WHOLE NIGHTMARE..FREE LENNOX FREE LENNOX…My heart breaks for this poor soul and his family…
Even Michael Vick’s seized PB dogs are being rehomed with a new lease on life and they seem to be adjusting to living in a civilized society just fine. Why not Lennox? He HAS a home! Give him back to his family already! Poor baby…he probably does wonder what it was he did to deserve to be kidnapped from his home/family and put in dog jail for two years.
ITNOJ….Release him, NOW!
Thank you for this great article Ernest !!!
FREE LENNOX !!!
Has anybody contacted NBC or any “local/global” news agencies about this? I believe NBC is the “official” news/broadcaster for the Olympics – this seems like it would be very appropriate for them to cover especially, since they normally cover the “torch” run leading up to the Olympics and Lennox supporters are still trying to get Belfast boycotted for the torch… Just seems like a good idea for the people that are putting this campaign together. Even if you don’t get a response if you could post some of these articles on their FB page or even their website it might get Lennox a little more publicity… Good Luck and best wishes to Lennox and his family!
Thank you for this, I have just posted it on the official supporters group on Facebook so they will have now seen it. Although I do not personally know the owners others in the group do. Thank you again.
PATHETIC, just wicked pathetic!! The belfast Telegraph ‘powers that be’ must have gotten an early Christmas gift from some secret admirers??
this whole case in my opinion has been very badly handled , as lennox has not harmed anyone, he should not be under a warrant for his destruction . this poor much loved family dog, has been locked away from everything he knows and loves for 2 years and from the photos shown on facebook he doesnt look very well loss of fur etc .the animal welfare laws actually state it is illegal for anyone having an animal in thair care to cause it unnessasary physical or mental suffering , so to me the law seems to be breaking thair own laws as being locked away for 2 years is doing just that !!!!! it is so very wrong to treat any animal in this way and this law should have been abolished years ago ,… 127 thousand people have signed his petition for his freedom , yet still it falls on deaf ears …..to me this is inhumane, and if lennox is destroyed ,this in my mind and many thousands of other minds amounts to nothing more than murder in the name of the law, because in our country you are supposed to be innocent till proven guilty ,and to use a tape measure and a size chart to prove him guilty is beyond anyones belief !!!!
Seems to me that Belfast Telegraph’s managers have been bought… money does change many people but not all. Unfortunally money seems to have put newspapers freedom/integrity on the garbage bin.
This is one of the most corrupt and heartless ordeals I have ever watched unfold regarding a loving family who has suffered terribly over the illegal confiscation of their beautiful family dog. And quite frankly there are hundreds of thousands of people including myself who have also been suffering over this hate crime being committed. Everyone of us have just been aching inside for TWO YEARS!!! I am angry as hell about it!! And the BCC is so SHOCKED that people around the world are outraged and expressing their anger towards them over this?? How arrogant for THE BCC TO ACT SO INNOCENT AS IF THEY ARE THE VICTIMS?? Yea right. Nobody buys it and they never will. Horrible, horrible human beings. And Belfast Telegraph who we all counted on to be informative and honest, who we all admired greatly, you just broke our hearts with your recent apology to the BCC. You sold out. I never thought that would happen. and your choice to do so has put Lennox in further danger. Lets hope someone of a higher consciousness that UNDERSTANDS what JUSTICE and COMPASSION mean, is in that courtroom on the 24th of May who has the power and who will stop this appalling fiasco and make the only right decision which will bring joy and triumph to the Barnes family and to all of us when this innocent and loving creature is allowed to walk once again into the sunshine with his family and finally is free to go home.
Let him go home ! He did nothing wrong u had no reason to take this poor baby away, u dint even have the right address on the warrent anyways, your clearly in no way capable of looking after any animals if anyone deserves to pts its all the people who have been involved in keeping this lovely boy from his family!
I don’t understand, he’s not aggressive, he was in a family environment and well cared for and registered etc, and this is the outcome? The only thing that is aggressive in this situation is the people who did this to him.
MONSTERS DON’T EXIST, BUT PEOPLE DO!!!!!!
Our attorney told us as we lost the 3rd time and needed a miracle, the bigger the fuss the better the chance of life. Earnest you stood tall and proud for the truth to save Prada and begin the media circus we needed to save Prada Andree. We got the dog and God is behind this Animal Army so let’s get loud. The Olympic runners through Northern Ireland are mostly young like Lennox’s sister human, Brook. Let’s reach out to everyone involved in the Olympics including the travel agents booking the packages. We were 12,000 strong for Prada in 7 days and Lennox inspired the battle to continue as friends reminded us of his time. We are 127,000 Plus Animal Army Strong for this innocent baby and enotionally drained family fighting this circus. We can do this! Dan Rooney needs to be our voice since he works on peace in Northern Ireland from the US and is an owner of the Steelers football team here. The Titans showed up with donations to Tia at Villalobos for Prada at her release party and restored our faith back in Nastyville, I mean Nashville and we will support our Tirans from their kindness. Football is our biggest tourist income state to state in the US so let ‘s ask for their help and GET THE DOG! Earnest you have an amazing talent and you are truly an angel for being a voice for the voiceless and a fearless speaker of the truth. God is good all if the time my friends <3
This “apology” makes you wonder how much BCC either threatened them with something, offered them something or paid them off. I’m sure the paper will lose much credibility with its readers after this.
I’ve been following this story for a while. I have to question the motives behind keeping a lab-mix or any dog for that matter with no history of aggression imprisoned. Do you automatically kill a child because he *looks* like he or she will cause trouble down the road? NO! Neither should you kill a beloved pet for its looks. That’s ludicrous! That’s unconscionably cruel!
This is a horrific and shameful example of discrimination being shown to the children of Northern Ireland!
The People of Northern Ireland need to move to change the law and move quickly so that Lennox will not be its victim. Is it not better that 10 guilty go free than 1 innocent be punished?
Offering a solution: If the family leaves your country with Lennox, will you FREE LENNOX?
Come on! You folks have MORE sense than this!
PLEASE LET THIS POOR BABY GO HOME. HE HAS DONE NOTHING TO DESERVE THIS TREATMENT AND IT IS SO UNFAIR TO HIM FAMILY. YOUR ARMY ARE SIDE BY SIDE WITH YOU NUDDY PLEASE DONT GIVE UP ……. WE HAVENT…..LOVE YOU LOTS BIG GUY XXXXXX
Please let this animal go home. this is tragic. We are better than this.
Along the theme of the comments above, Lennox seems to be a victim of BSL. If his own family had not asked to have him relocated, why hasn’t it been considered by others that the best thing for Lennox would be to have him relocated to another place that does not wrongly practice BSL. I question the motives of those supposedly responsible for his welfare, that they have not proposed this as a tenable option! Hopefully rational reason will reign and the BCC will not err with their decision based on misinformation.
Well, I have sent prayers and good thoughts for Lennox and the family; that torch does NOT go to Befast in my opinion. We cannot support a community government with such an uncivilized policy and such slow and harmful ways. Their self made luck they won’t get our support internationally due to their behaviors. Don’t expect Americans to go to Belfast any time soon and spend tourist dollars – that council has ruined the reputation of their place. They’ll lose a lot from this fiasco.
The owner admits in court that Lennox has problems, thats why he was always muzzled and kept outside, not in the house as some people seem to think
Neil – where do you get your ‘facts’ from?
My facts come from the court docs, Caroline said to the court that she wouldn’t let the dog near any strange children or adults, hence the muzzle, i am happy to send the docs to any email and you can read them yourself !..
Yes that is true Neil and the Belfast Telegraph were right to apologise. They heard in the courts that the dog is dangerous. The owner herself is under investigation by the Attorney General for her involvement in the threats and abuse of BCC staff. There are so many holes in the owners story of how and why this dog was seized,accusatios of perjury agaist th dog warden that did not happen plus paramilitary threats towards a single mother by partner of the dogs owner. It’s a campaign of lies and abuse and stopped being about the dog as soon as the donations stopped rolling in.
This is so fucking ridiculous…..seriously. If the dog is going to be kept basically isolated his entire life than put him to sleep and end his misery. Pitbulls are extremely loyal and loving dogs that need stimuation and attention. I can’t imagine the condition both physically and mentally he will be in after this entire crazy deal ends……if it ever does.
Neil- news flash, most people who don’t know how their dog will act outside w/ strangers keep them on a muzzle. Its common sense and pro-active. I have a boxer than loves people except for when they run by our house, then they are a stranger and on “his property” and he will chase them. Pitbull owners are constantly scrutinized, we have to be super cautious and hold ourselves to a different standard because the country forces us too.
This has gone on for far too long. Even if they won’t release him to the family, they need to get him out of where he is. Put him in a rehabilitation facility where he can work with people and get back on his feet so he can be re-integrated into society and ideally with his family. Punishing a dog because he is a certain breed is insanity.
Pitbulls are resiliant and have bounced back from much worse than this to become amazing pets, therapy dogs, etc.
(End Preach)
Lennox isn’t a pit bull!
Seems to me like St. Patrick needs to return to Belfast,Ireland. Its been preached for centuries that he drove all of the SNAKES out of Ireland. Well, he missed a few. They’re in the BCC. Free Lennox NOW, you snakes. He has done NO WRONG to anyone.
BTW folks, Lennox is NOT a pit bull he is an American Bulldog/Lab mix. I would also like to see where this “muzzle” stuff is written as I have never seen or heard this, or that he was ever a “problem”.
Lennox is a therapy dog and needs to go home!! He was registered for 5 years with this county as an Am. Bull/lab mix so whats the deal now with all this “oh he “looks” like a pit” and so this year no registration but seizure.
Rediculous, and as a therapy dog would be exempt from BSL. Send him home!! Please have some dignity and do not murder this family member.
It’s in the court ruling Gemstone. And he IS a pit bull, this was never contested by the owner in court. All of the experts, both prosecution and defence agreed this.
Courtney a news flash for you i was brought up with pits never a problem, i owned a pit never a problem and gemstone search youtube savelennox the video from the family states he always wore a muzzle, not one of you supporters would like to be in the same room as lennox, you would be terrified of him.
Sorry gemstone Lennox was never registered as a therapy dog as he would not be where he is today, if he was.
Ange and Neil.. i’ll start with the first comment from Neil. There are other rehoming options available for Lennox. Victoria Stillwell (the dog behaviourist and staunch Lennox supporter) has offered an alternative for him out of Northern Ireland, should the need arise and there are other options for him as well. So that is something the family have looked into and discussed. Lennox was only muzzled when being walked or if strangers came into the house as he was wary of them and it was to ensure that nobody, including Lennox, came to any harm. He was NOT a yard dog, he was a family pet and dogs have kennels outside to shade them from the sun, it does not mean that is their home! There is no proof he was caged even if there was a cage outside, the family foster dogs, a cage would ensure that new dogs could mix with the family dogs during the day without risk of harm until they got used to each other. It is the same practice used in most kennels where they keep dogs seperated until their character has been assessed.Now Angela, how is your friend the dog warden who took him? She is after all on all your friends lists and on the troll pages trying to cause trouble for the family. He was deemed pit bull by his measurements and thus he fitted the criteria of a banned breed, it doesnt mean he is one, it just means his measurements fit and as such his owner had to agree that they did which meant she had to accept he was deemed a pit bull. One of BCC’s own dog wardens has publicly said that she does not consider the owner to have anything to do with the ‘threats’ made against Council staff and there is no evidence that she or any lennox supporters have done any of the things they were accused of. After investigation by the PSNI nobody was found to be culpable for the supposed threatening behaviour, which happened well over a year ago by the way according to the press. The threats against a single mother? Was that the single mother that said she wanted to meet me in a dark alley with a baseball bat and whose friends offered to lend her a bat and a rifle to use if she needed them? Just so the full picture is out there, not the edited version you all tend to give to suit your agenda. Ring any bells Angela? It should as you and your associates have been twisting things to try and destroy the campaign to save lennox for months. You should all be ashamed of yourselves for claiming to be animal lovers. Nobody who actually cared about Lennox or any other animal would try and destroy a campaign to save them. You should all be ashamed of yourselves
Well said clare. IMO BCC should be ashamed of themselves, what they are doing to this poor dog and his family is just horrible. What sort of people spend many thousands of pounds fighting to kill an innocent pet on the grounds of how he looks. I came across an interesting link in regard to a court case in Australia, while I understand laws are different, this case highlights the flaws of ‘deeming’ an animal ‘type’ using the point system…..the dog in this case was sent home as it should and so too should Lennox be sent home. ( http://www.dafrevlogancc.bigpondhosting.com/ )
Oh and one more thing Neil, you said above ‘not one of you supporters would like to be in the same room as lennox, you would be terrified of him.’ as if you know this for a fact. So tell me, how do you know this as the only pesron who have ever stated that he was ‘terrifying’ was the dog warden and her testimony was questionable and she had to admit in court that she’d lied about him every having bitten. So i assume, if you are not the dog warden in a false id, that you are just repeating her opinion which makes your comment questionable as well
ever* having bitten
Angela Mannering and Neil, Why dont you run along and try to do something constructive with your time Like helping to save lives instead of trying to destroy them, How Sad. The dog is an innocent living being, and Please dont say you support the dog because you and your little group have tried to sabotage the campaign to save him from the start.
He was deemed pit bull by his measurements and thus he fitted the criteria of a banned breed
Lennox is a labmix for crying out loud. He had a DNA test and there was no pitbull found in him. Do they have a prejudice for black dogs too? Wasn’t Otis black (see attached)? Lets not let the same thing happen to poor Lennox that happened to Otis 18 years ago:
http://www.endangereddogs.com/EDDROtis.htm
Lennox deserves to go home and be with the family that has done everything right and loves him or be temporarily taken in where black dogs are allowed. This is the most backwards and prejudice law I have ever seen.
LOL honestly trying to talk to these trolls is like trying to get a 3 year old to give Johnny back the toy they took. We can go around around about whether or not Lennox is a pit-bull. The fact is he is not a pitt-bull. You cant argue with DNA testing, and in fact as soon as the BCC saw there is not one drop of Pitt in Lennox, they then changed the law to fit their needs. Smacks of communism to me, not at all the type of Gov that makes laws then sticks to them. This whole thing is tragic and shows the mentality over there in the Gov. right now. The family calls the BCC out on many less than stellar activities occurring there. And all of a sudden this person they call the “dog warden”, which btw sounds like something out of the old prison movies where they keep people in dark holes and do what they want to them, comes and takes Lennox who has been living with the family for 5 years? And registered!! So all of a sudden after 5 years Lennox is an issue? Not to mention, this monster is sitting in their with Lennox giving her kisses and she is laughing, caught on camera, and then she LIES on the stand saying she is afraid of him. In our country, you lie on the stand you go to jail! The more I learn about this whole nightmare, the more untruths and injustice’s I find. Lennox is not the issue here, the issue is the failure of the court system to uphold its duty to the community. Idk do you all in Belfast and N. Ireland just get run over like this all the time??? It smacks of a corrupt government. FREE LENNOX NOW, STOP THIS!!
Lennox should come live in the USA. He has that option and to be denied that make the BCC a bunch of gutless cowards in my book. I bet they are trying to cover the lies they’ve told. The world is watching them!