Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee Written evidence submitted by Anonymous Contributor
While as a Canadian Citizen I am personally not in a position to participate in the questions regarding Dog Control and Welfare in the United Kingdom, it is nevertheless our hope that “fair” and “just” controls be developed and implemented to help prevent arbitrary practices, and dispel incentives, to sentence individual innocent pets to death for what is intended to be a benefit to the human collective.
One such example of an unpopular practice involves a well known case playing out in plain world view today with 168,370 signatures to date and counting… all individuals petitioning the release of a dog now two years on death row with convictions not based on any specific action or behaviour, but rather on the premise of what the dog might do with the teeth he possesses.
If I may, and in brief, herewith is the story for your reference:
Caroline Barnes,—an upstanding law abiding citizen of the United Kingdom, a Veterinary assistant who fostered dogs and worked for the Belfast City Council,—brought home one day—seven years ago, an American Bulldog/Labrador Cross puppy to comfort her daughter Brooke, a child afflicted with asthma and physical disabilities, then six years old. The dog, subsequently named Lennox, was vaccinated, neutered, micro chipped, and insured according to the laws of the United Kingdom.
Lennox was an exemplary pet who never bit, nor attacked, nor threatened anyone throughout his entire life with the family, in fact Lennox never had any complaints issued against him. The dog served as a great comfort to the little girl who relied upon him for her safety and wellbeing.
Thereafter, five years later, in May 2010, members of the Belfast City Council arrived by error at the doorstep of the Barnes family, shared tea and cigarettes, unearthed a measuring tape, declared the two dogs (Lennox and another dog from the same litter) “of type” and absconded with them to an undisclosed kennel destination. Within a period of time, one pet was returned, Lennox however was confiscated and deemed a candidate for euthanisation.
The Barnes family refused to sign the requisite documents to do away with the life of their pet and proceeded to fight in court to have him returned. Today—following two years and three court decisions later (all based on contradictory evidence)—Lennox remains condemned to death based on appearance and the probability of future aggression. The family appealed to the Belfast City Council to be permitted access to Lennox and to have an independent Veterinarian examine him. The Belfast City Council promptly and steadfastly denied all requests. The family and the little girl in particular are left bereft and in despair.
In the interim, there have been many letters and appeals written to various authorities in Northern Ireland and England, but all to no avail. In addition many organisations outside of Northern Ireland have offered to adopt Lennox in an effort to spare his life. The Barnes family has agreed to consider these options.
As it is, Lennox remains in custody living under extreme duress, in a dark corner, covered in saw dust, amid his own feces, without due veterinary care, an injured neck, an unattended bleeding foot, clumps of hair falling out of his body, medicated daily to keep his anxiety and stress under control, and his human family denied access to him since the day he was taken in May 2010.
As well, and of note, the outcome of the events as they ensued in court gives pause as to something terribly amiss at hand. This, given the history of the passive nature of the dog while living with his human family (for five years prior), in addition to two examinations and testimonies by independent professional experts in dog behavior asserting to his calm predisposition, and many evidence photos of the dog behaving in an overtly friendly manner toward the Dog Warden, Ms. Lightfoot, who then proceeded to testify against him. An article titled “Private Investigation of Lennox Wardens Warranted” was published 22 June 2012 by The North Country Gazette.
The gravity of Lennox’s fate is felt every passing day with the family exhausting all legal recourses to free him. Website: www.savelennox.co.uk; www.savelennox.com; www.savelennoxpetition.co.uk; www.boycottbelfast.com; savelennoxfacebook.co.uk;
In conclusion, thank you for the initiative to review, update, and improve the current controls in place to safeguard the lives of both human and canine alike.
In the event you wish to review additional information, please note the following link for your reference: www.examiner.com/article/breed-specific-legislation-failing-globally.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
June 2012