Lennox was taken from the Barnes family home in Belfast by dog wardens two years ago after city council officials identified him as a pit bull-type dog, which is illegal in Northern Ireland. Lennox was an American bulldog Labrador mix not a pit bull. A 28-day deadline for legal appeals expired at midnight on July 10, 2012. The dog, who never hurt anyone, never bit anyone, was a family pet, was executed for looking like a pit bull after being taken from his family two years ago. The dog’s heartbroken owner, Caroline Barnes and her teenage daughter Brooke were denied the chance to say a final farewell. They were not even told that the dog was dead by the Belfast City Council who were determined to kill the dog, despite numerous other viable options to rehome the dog in the USA and italy. Now they will not return the body nor his collar to the family. 
pls share, everyone tweet the prime minister @number10gov and ask him to investigate the BCC re: Lennox, suggestion came from Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York… I kid you not… she said be persistent… be factual and professional
MUST READ… Victoria Stilwell was threatened by the BCC and sued (he failed since she spoke the truth)
http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/328493
New radio show with Victoria Stilwell, Sarah Fisher, James Crosby and Peter Tallack
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dCrHbQMhj4&feature=share
BCC assessment of Lennox
Dog experts assessment of Lennox
http://savelennox.com/2011/10/11/statement-on-lennox-by-sarah-fisher/
The test starts with Lennox on leash, held by a female Animal Control person, with both the Animal Control person and David Ryan (presumably a stranger to Lennox), a behaviorist, seated in chairs. Lennox is being petted by the female. Lennox is seated and seems to be relaxed.
…At no time did Lennox show even the most remote aggressive response to this stranger, Mr. Ryan.
Crosby goes on to compare evaluations of two other dogs…
…Note that my written evaluations of Lennox, “JoJo”, and Helo never use language such as “the most dangerous dog I have ever seen” or any of the other nonsense that the BCC’s evaluator has used. Such emotional language has no place in a behavioral assessment. My evaluations never mention the dogs’ appearance, as physical appearance has absolutely no bearing on behavior.
Lennox certainly got short shrift in this incident. The evaluator that the Court relied upon is clearly unqualified to assess temperament and behavior. He doesn’t even have the credentials to assess adherence to a breed standard.
http://networkedblogs.com/zNR4K
Lennox, on a leash, being tested for temperament. The leash is held by a woman alleged to be Sandie Lightfoot, the dog warden responsible for the chain of events that led to Lennox’s murder. The man in the video is reportedly David Ryan, a dog behavior expert hired by the family to do an assessment of Lennox without any prejudice. Ryan was one of two dog behavior experts who examined Lennox, and who both testified to the court that the dog showed no sign of aggression.
In the video, the dog is relaxed and friendly. He sits on command, and waits for a treat. Several times, he attempts to lick both people in a visibly friendly and playful manner.
The video is dated March 15, 2011. This is long after both Lightfoot and the Belfast City Council had alleged that Lennox was aggressive towards people. The video shows no signs of aggression. Moreover, Lightfoot, who by this time certainly had interacted with Lennox several times, shows no nervousness at being around the dog, at all.
http://www.examiner.com/article/leaked-video-contradicts-belfast-assertion-that-lennox-was-dangerous
Questions
We are taking comfort in the fact that Lennox is no longer in the hands of those who caused him pain… the barnes family
Northern Ireland’s First Minister Peter Robinson turned to social media in a doomed, last-minute attempt at intervention. ”
As a dog lover I am very unhappy with the outcome of this case,” he tweeted. “Spoke to Lord Mayor about Lennox. Suggested BCC (Belfast City Council) should seriously look at re-homing option. Why exercise the order if there’s an alternative?”
Victoria Stilwell
“I want to know why Belfast City council won’t give Lennox’s body back to the family and why they won’t even return his collar to Brooke even though they were asked to do so by the family so that she could have something to remember him by. There is something corrupt going on and an independent review of the council’s actions in this case needs to be done. I want answers. Why not return the body? Was Lennox even still alive and what physical condition was he in at the time of his death? We already have evidence of his poor physical state during Sarah Fisher’s behavioral evaluation of him last year. Hair loss, sores on his body,a hurt neck and damaged paw. The council have many questions they need to answer because I think they have something to hide.”
” I am so disgusted and want everyone to know how low Belfast City Council have stooped. The Barnes family heard about the death of their beloved dog through me because I had been told by a source at BBC Radio Ulster. After what the council put the family through they didn’t even have the decency to inform the family first before everyone else know. Someone involved in this mess needs to lose their job. If this is the way they represent their citizens then Belfast beware. Belfast City Council should hang their heads for the shameful and insensitive way they have handled this. Heartless doesn’t even begin to describe the people surrounding this case. Appalling and I can assure you, this will NEVER be forgotten!”
Pleas from the US and UK as well as Australia, Sweden, Italy, Finland, and Belgium.
An Italian minister even offered Lennox a home and asked for clemency. 200,000 signatures signed a petition supporting a reprieve…
Investigate the Belfast City Council
Sack and Bring Lightfoot to Justice for Perjury… please sign and share petition
I am asking for an investigation of the Belfast City Council regarding the handling of the Lennox the dog case. There are too many questions left unanswered. Too many actions that are questionable. Lennox had offers of sanctuary from some of the best-known dog advocates in the world. Dog trainer Victoria Stilwell went to Ireland trying in vain to meet with the Belfast City Council (BCC) or anyone with authority who would listen. She generously offered to pay all costs to re-home him in the United States and to take full responsibility for him for the rest of his life. The BCC refused to communicate with her, as they had refused dialogue with so many others before. They were allegedly, breathtakingly heartless and cruel to Lennox, and his family, and to good people throughout the world who tried to engage them positively. Their callousness climaxed in their refusal to grant the Barnes family the chance to say goodbye, or collect Lennox’s body and give him a proper burial. The BCC has shown a complete lack of human decency in their dealings with the public and the Barnes family. The BCC employees have stonewalled the public, made animal sounds on the phone the day Lennox was killed, hung up on people concerned about Lennox, threatened dog experts and tried to sue them for speaking the truth.
We are left with more questions than answers. Why couldn’t unbiased behaviorists assess the dog? Why wouldn’t they let anyone, including the family, see the dog — up to and after his death? Were they abusing him? Had their lack of care led to his failing health or premature death? Had they violated the law and killed him before the appeal period was up? These were the only things that made sense in the face of a wall of silence and a bolted door. We have just begun to make our voices heard and we will win.
We are NOT going away any time soon. The more that the BCC shuts us out, the more we will demand answers and an investigation into the BCC.
1. Newly surfaced videos and assessment evaluations show a sweet loving Lennox made March 15, 2011 long after testimony to the contrary had been sworn to in court. We already have evidence of his poor physical state during Sarah Fisher’s behavioral evaluation of him last year. Hair loss, sores on his body,a hurt neck and damaged paw.
http://savelennox.com/2011/10/11/statement-on-lennox-by-sarah-fisher/
http://networkedblogs.com/zNR4K
2. Perjury pertains to #1. and testimony of non expert witness Alexandre Lightfoot.
3. Pertains to #1 and #2. Why wasn’t the expert testimony of behavioral dog specialists used.
4. Why was the same judge allowed to sit on the bench for appeal. He should have recused himself. He was obviously biased.
5. Where was common sense and “…Justice tempered by mercy…”.
6. Why wasn’t the family allowed to visit during this two year period
7. Why weren’t they allowed one last visit?
8. Why couldn’t they have the body; Lennox could no longer pose a threat to the public. He was dead.
9. Why wasn’t his collar given to Brooke.
10. It has been hinted at by noteworthy officials and well renowned individuals that this was a vindictive campaign against Caroline Barnes because she dared speak out against BSL laws.
These are just a few questions and observations we have. There are many more. The actions of the Belfast City Council are irredeemable in the World’s eyes. The BCC has cast a shadow on your city that can only fall on your shoulders. A thorough investigation is required in the eyes of the world. This will NOT blow over before you know it. We demand Justice for Lennox.
Dogs Today Magazine
Breed Specific Legislation is legal prejudice and deserves no place on the statute books of a civilised nation. We’d not agree to racial profiling to label all foreigners with certain physical qualities as terrorists or accept a law that measures a person’s biceps to decide if they’re likely to be violent in the future. Looks in this case can kill and it’s the innocent that are dying. Let’s fight on together to get rid of pointless laws that don’t protect the public and result in dogs like Lennox being posted home in the mail to a family who fought so hard to save their best friend. RIP Lennox, we’ll never forget you and why you died.
Media
Victoria Stillwell smacks down BCC
Victoria debates BCC representative on the radio
Victoria Stillwell appeared on “Issues with Jane Velez-Mitchell
Victoria Stillwell appeared on “Issues with Jane Velez-Mitchell
Minister Peter Robinson calls Lennox death folly
BCC had numerous other options to rehome Lennox which they refused
Lennox was not humanely put to sleep
Refutes BCC claims that Lennox was dangerous
Lennox was killed for crimes he did NOT commit
Investigate Belfast City Council
World outrage at Lennox death
Many articles, photos and links about Lennox
Brilliant video by Kenn Bell, features Hector, a lovable former M. Vick dog
Jim Crosby’s pro evaluation of Lennox assessment
Highly recommend this evaluation from Blogger Jim Crosby on the so called “evaluation” of Lennox
Sarah Fisher’s assessment of Lennox
In Oct. 2011, Sarah Fisher met with Lennox and made an assessment. She found him to not be aggressive and suffering from a hurt neck, paw and skin condition.
Tom Cruise and Russell Crowe stood up for Lennox
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/weekend/2012/0714/1224320029467.html#.UADXeGoGTwU.twitter
