American Pit Bull Terrier: Wrongfully Accused
Jason Ricker
Professor Joonna Trapp
ENGL 3010
November 18, 2012
American Pit Bull Terrier: Wrongfully Accused Dog Deemed ‘Dangerous,’ Killed In Northern Ireland For Being Bulldog
“The seven-year old dog at the center of a worldwide campaign to save his life was put to death in Northern Ireland.
Despite calls from around the world to spare him, Lennox, a bulldog-Labrador mix was killed Wednesday after a prolonged legal battle. The dog was the focus of a campaign to prevent the Belfast City Council from putting him down after they decided he was a danger to the public and should be put to sleep.
Lennox’s owners argued the dog had never hurt anybody, and was being targeted because of his breed. Under Northern Ireland’s Dangerous Dogs Order, “any dog of the type known as the pit bull terrier,” is considered dangerous. Dogs that fall under the definition of dangerous according to the law can be seized and killed.
After Lennox was seized by the city council dog wardens in May 2010, his family began an online campaign to prevent his killing. An online petition to save him had more than 200,000 signatures at the time of his death. Despite the campaign, two courts over nearly two years ruled the dog should be put down, and after a legal reprieve expired at midnight Tuesday, Lennox was killed.
There are some exemptions to the law, but Lennox’s owners claim they weren’t given a chance to try to prove Lennox qualified as an exemption.
In a statement posted to their website, the council said Lennox was a danger to the community.
“The council’s expert described the dog as one of the most unpredictable and dangerous dogs he had come across,” the statement read. “The council regrets that the court action was necessary but would emphasize that the safety of the public remains its key priority.”
On the “Save Lennox” Facebook page, Lennox’s owners wrote that they weren’t allowed to say goodbye to their dog, but were told they would receive some ashes in the mail.
Professor Joonna Trapp
ENGL 3010
November 18, 2012
American Pit Bull Terrier: Wrongfully Accused Dog Deemed ‘Dangerous,’ Killed In Northern Ireland For Being Bulldog
“The seven-year old dog at the center of a worldwide campaign to save his life was put to death in Northern Ireland.
Despite calls from around the world to spare him, Lennox, a bulldog-Labrador mix was killed Wednesday after a prolonged legal battle. The dog was the focus of a campaign to prevent the Belfast City Council from putting him down after they decided he was a danger to the public and should be put to sleep.
Lennox’s owners argued the dog had never hurt anybody, and was being targeted because of his breed. Under Northern Ireland’s Dangerous Dogs Order, “any dog of the type known as the pit bull terrier,” is considered dangerous. Dogs that fall under the definition of dangerous according to the law can be seized and killed.
After Lennox was seized by the city council dog wardens in May 2010, his family began an online campaign to prevent his killing. An online petition to save him had more than 200,000 signatures at the time of his death. Despite the campaign, two courts over nearly two years ruled the dog should be put down, and after a legal reprieve expired at midnight Tuesday, Lennox was killed.
There are some exemptions to the law, but Lennox’s owners claim they weren’t given a chance to try to prove Lennox qualified as an exemption.
In a statement posted to their website, the council said Lennox was a danger to the community.
“The council’s expert described the dog as one of the most unpredictable and dangerous dogs he had come across,” the statement read. “The council regrets that the court action was necessary but would emphasize that the safety of the public remains its key priority.”
On the “Save Lennox” Facebook page, Lennox’s owners wrote that they weren’t allowed to say goodbye to their dog, but were told they would receive some ashes in the mail.
Cited: "American Pit Bull Terrier." American Pit Bull Terrier. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Nov. 2012. <http://www.bulldogbreeds.com/americanpitbullterrier.html>. "American Pit Bull Terrier, Pit Bulls, Pitbulls." American Pit Bull Terrier, Pit Bulls, Pitbulls. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Nov. 2012. <http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/americanpitbull.htm>. HughManeMemphis. ""Kill All Pit Bulls" - Memphis, TN - Abc24." YouTube. YouTube, 15 Feb. 2012. Web. 05 Nov. 2012. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-froCK9JmI>. Milan, Cesar. "NEWS AND EVENTS." CesarsWay.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Nov. 2012. <http://www.cesarsway.com/node/1905>. "Pit Bull Myths." Pit Bull Myths. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Nov. 2012. <http://www.realpitbull.com/myths.html>.