Lennox's Fans and Family Continue to Fight for His Freedom

The Belfast City Council has forgotten a cardinal lesson we all learned in kindergarden: Don't judge based on appearance. They've impounded a 5-year-old American Bulldog/Labrador mix because they didn't like the way he looked.

When his owners adopted Lennox as a puppy, they did everything right. Lennox was neutered, Pet Safe and DNA registered, microchipped, well cared for and even insured. Lennox soon found himself acting as a therapy dog to the family's 11-year-old disabled daughter. No one had ever complained about Lennox, nor did he exhibit aggressive behaviors.

So why would such a well-mannered, four-legged member of society be locked up like a prisoner on death row? It's because of Northern Ireland's breed specific legislation, or BSL. BSL aims to reduce the incidents of dog attacks by judging dogs based on how they look rather than how they behave. (It doesn't work.) Like similar laws around the world, Northern Ireland's BSL allows a dog to be impounded and euthanized just for being, or appearing to be, a certain breed.

That's exactly what happened to Lennox. He was classified as a "pit bull type" because of a few measurements of his muzzle and back legs. Lennox is one of many who have been victimized by BSL.

While the rest of the U.K. has BSL, the laws in Northern Ireland are stricter and more poorly defined. In the U.K., responsible owners are allowed to have a "pit bull type" breed provided the dog doesn't pose a risk to anyone. In Northern Ireland, the courts have the authority to allow a "pit bull type" to stay in the home if they see the dog isn't a danger, but there aren't any regulations or guidelines for that decision. To put it simply, the courts are unable to establish that a dog is lawful and allow it to stay in the home.

Because of this absent language, Lennox has been locked up for over a year and his family continues to fight for him. If Northern Ireland adopts the same policy as the rest of the U.K., the Belfast City Council will have no grounds for keeping Lennox. Furthermore, dogs like him will be safe from unjust impoundment and death.

A webpage and a Facebook page were created due to public disgust over the matter. People from all over the world have signed petitions, sent letters to Belfast City Council, made telephone calls and appeared at the courthouse in support of Lennox. Northern Ireland tourists have even changed their travel plans to other destinations until Lennox is freed.

Lennox's story has also attracted support from celebs like Cesar Millan, Alyssa Milano, Kelly Osbourne, Boy George and Victoria Stilwell. They've asked for the immediate release of Lennox and an end to all BSL.

Lennox's family has only heard from the Belfast City Council once in the last year and has no idea where Lennox is or how he is being treated. A few stray pictures have surfaced of Lennox; he is kept in a kennel with a concrete floor covered in sawdust and feces.

Lennox's family will be in court to appeal on September 16th.

Change.org member, Jennifer White, has created a petition calling on the Belfast City Council to release Lennox and return him to his family. Keep the pressure on the City Council by signing the petition today.

Photo credit: basykes