Animal Planet star swoops in to save Lennox the dog

Jul 09, 2012 11:43 AM by Michelle Leach

Posted in Entertainment / Celebrity Gossip

Supporters: Pet Target Of Breed Discrimination

It's Me or the Dog host Victoria Stilwell is standing by in Belfast, after offering to foot the bill to transport and re-home the Lab/American Bulldog mix in the U.S. As it stands now, Lennox is hours away from being destroyed by the Northern Ireland city as part of its "Dangerous Dogs Act," ordinance, even though the family pet has never shown aggression in his seven years.

Free Lennox Victoria Stilwell

For two long years Lennox has been held by the city of Belfast.

Since that time, celebrities like Victoria Stilwell, Cesar Millan of Dog Whisperer fame and even the pet's namesake, legendary boxer Lennox Lewis, have offered their support to the Barnes family.

What's going on here?

The saga began in May 2010, when city officials took the pet from the family.

He was ordered to be destroyed as a "pit-bull type" dog under the Dangerous Dogs Act.

The family contends Lennox has never shown any aggression. In fact, The Guardian reports Lennox was an "unofficial assistance dog" to the family's 11-year-old daughter, Brooke, who is disabled.

The newspaper reports his owner, Caroline Barnes, even worked as a "vet nurse."

An editorial in The Guardian notes, in England, Scotland and Wales "our unpopular and ineffective Dangerous Dogs Act was amended in 1997 to remove the mandatory death sentence for any dogs identified as pit bulls.

"Northern Ireland's devolution meant they no longer followed our dog laws, and they had to wait until 2011 and the Dogs (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 for well-behaved pit bull types to be given even the slightest chance of avoiding a death sentence," it continues.

Supporters contend Lennox is the target of breed discrimination, and the death sentence is being delivered simply because of his "looks."

Though Animal Planet's Stilwell has offered to pay for all expenses related to the dog's travel and re-homing in the United States, officials in Northern Ireland are standing their ground.

If officials don't overturn their decision, Lennox will be euthanized Monday.

The family's plight has captured the world's attention, with more than 192,000 people signing a petition to save the pet as of early Monday.

The Barnes's story is also featured at the petition site.

The "Save Lennox" Facebook campaign has also generated nearly 90,000 supporters.

With so little time left for Lennox, rallies originally held in the U.K. crossed the pond to New York City, with a "Free Lennox Protest" held for four hours, starting at 10 a.m. Monday.

Image courtesy of Nikki Nelson/ WENN.com

Tags: cesar millan lennox victoria stilwell

Comments

Comments on "Animal Planet star swoops in to save Lennox the dog"

I agree with Kathy - most dogs can be trained to be attack dogs and or vicious... I lived in a 2 family home growing up..... My cousins lived upstairs. We had a fenced in yard we were one of the few houses on the block that wasn't attached and we had a pretty big lot - back yard and side yard for the Bronx. Since I was 5 my family always had dogs mainly pure bred Shepherds... My cousin decided he wanted a dog of his own - we still had our dog... I played with both dogs outside... But one night when I went upstairs - I was attacked by their dog right through my leather jacket - my aunt saved me by putting her arm in the dogs mouth as I ran into her bathroom to safety. I was taken to the hospital and the Dr was showing other Dr's the whole in my arm... that if the dog bit any further he would have cut the tendon and I would have lost movement in my arm... that was back in 1977 - I didn't want the dog put down.... I still played with both dogs outside!!! Even though I was blamed for the dog biting me... The dog finally went after my younger cousin..... the dog didn't bite her.... but they ended up putting the dog to sleep.... since he did bite someone else before me..... which I later found out... My dog lived many years after this incident. Dogs (animals) like people need love/affection. not just the necessary care for them to live! When my dog died from health problems... my mom was done with dogs..... I wasn't..... A friend of mine informed me of an 8 month dog they had that they couldn't train for the gas station... they were abusing it to be a watch dog.... I took the dog home... and it took some time... he was skiddish - but he learned to trust and was a great companion my parents wouldn't give me the dog when I got married!! :-) It's all how you treat and train your animals - doesn't matter on the breed!!! Wish people would be more educated! My cousins dog.... pure bred Shepherd didn't know who to show loyalty too... He had to be put down.. and that was very sad! I never blamed the dog! In my heart I know he acted the way he did because of the way he was raised!!! I was 16 when I was attacked - when the dog was a puppy we were not allowed to play with him in the house... Don't blame dogs for their behaviors - look at the humans who are suppose to love and guide them!

Max - your problem is with animal abusers and dog fighters - not with pit bulls! These poor dogs are beaten and tortured until they turn mean. I know many many pit bulls that are raised in loving homes and they are the sweetest dogs I have ever met. It shows true ignorance to blame the victims of these crimes, rather than the abusers. I am very sorry for all the pain that you have gone through. But blame the people who abused the dogs, not the dogs themselves. I have seen violent attacks by Golden Retrievers and Dalmatians, among others. But I would not blame the dogs, I blame the owners. Pitbulls are extremely loving dogs who would do anything for their people. It is the abusive and cruel people that turn that love into aggression. It is a very sad day when you blame the victims.

To the ignorant dog racist people on here... Lennox is NOT a pit bull. His license and DNA test shows he is a Lab/American Bulldog cross. Let us not condemn one dog because of your narrow-mindedness. You can't judge a dog, or people for that matter, based on your experience with one.

Pit bulls are ticking time bombs. You never know when they will snap and decide to sink their teeth into the nearest living thing. There is no reasoning with people who promote these animals, you just have to pray to God that when it goes off, it attacks it's owner instead of a child.

Personally, as a survivor of two Pitbulls attacking me unprovoked, having my Achilles severed and left leg and arm badly mauled and being left unable to walk for 6 months, a DVT and serious infections that led me to close my business, spend my life savings just to survive and experiencing what I can only describe as a NIGHTMARE, my life as I knew it has Gone and the Government in Australia has been useless. Up until the attack, I knew nothing about dogs, but after being attacked I discovered a CRAZY Pitbull Crowd that has kept this whole sick process continuing for over 30 years. Pitbull Nutters have made my life hell online whenever I have told my story, and the owner of the dogs that attacked ma was a scoiopath, refusing to ring an ambulance, they blamed me, tried to fight it in court after the council charged them, the Nutter made up lies to fight there case, the judge laughed there case out of court. I have come to despise Pitbull Owners and there regular lies and propaganda, I have never before faced such threats, abuse and hostility all for being the victim of Pitbulls. Victims don't choose to be attacked, but people CHOOSE to own Pitbulls. My experience has led me to be convinced that Governments do not understand the depth of the issue and are doing far from enough. It is time to protect the thousands of victims of Pitbulls, and stop catering to the sociopathic minority who insist on owning Killer breeds of dogs. I am glad that the Irish Government is taking a stance, as I know how Crazy the Pitbull Nutter crowd is. Thank God for common sense, because anthropomorphism has gone mad. Pitbull Nutters need to learn to relate well with their fellow humans and develop positive human relations and then they wont have a twisted need to attach emotionally in an unhealthy way to a killer breed of dog.

Our daughter has a Pit Bull that is the most lovable dog ever! To remove a dog from its family based solely on its breed is totally wrong, especially if there is an alternative way to go. Lennox should be placed in a good home that wants him. I understand there have been many offers to take him, if he can't be returned to his home in Belfast.

I hope that they can convince the court to allow Lennox to move to the United States.