Acumen+giving+you+the+edge

Last of the dog days

25 June 2012 | Updated: 25 June 2012 10:31 am | By Ruth Green

  • Print
  • Comments (6)

Related Articles

Lennox the pit bull to meet his maker as Defra plans further clampdown

Last week Belfast High Court rejected the final appeal to save a mongrel called Lennox from being terminated. Lennox is classified as a pit bull and, until last year, this would have meant he was automatically sentenced to death under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991.

In 2011 the law was amended in Northern Ireland (NI), 14 years after England, Scotland and Wales.

Confused? Thanks to the power of Google, we can discover what dog law specialists think. Trevor Cooper of Cooper & Co (whose firm runs the handy www.doglaw.co.uk), explains that the decision brought NI into line with the rest of the UK.

“At the end of last year the law was updated […] and means that people could have these kinds of dogs provided that they were not deemed a danger to public safety,” states Cooper.

Devolution has created a “patchwork quilt” of dog laws, he admits. “Scotland has extended [the act] to include private property. This is not the case in England and Wales where, if a dog injures a person on private property, it is not deemed a criminal offence.”

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is looking to change this and is carrying out a consultation exercise.

“It would be a significant step forward and we should be using modern technologies [like microchipping],” he says. “It won’t necessarily make dogs less dangerous, but it will be of great benefit to councils and the general public.”

Good to see the government taking a lead, as it were.

See all Related Jobs, Briefings & CPD/Events

Readers' comments (6)

  • Linda Buckley | 25-Jun-2012 12:55 pm

    Lennox is NOT a pitbull. He was seized for "measuring up" to be a pitbull but has been DNA'd and is NOT pitbull or of pitbull type. Initially taken under BSL. He has NEVER been aggressive or shown aggressive tendencies. He was taken purely on the measurements, then the dog warden said she felt threatened by him, though video footage of her with him shows exactly the opposite. He has since been convicted under the DDA for "possibly having behavioural issues."
    Cesar Milan, Victoria Stilwell and a collection of dog behavourists have all come out in support of Lennox.

    Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

  • Anonymous | 25-Jun-2012 4:24 pm

    Lennox is merely guilty of measuring up to be a pitbull. The video evidence is a joke, I suspect that the judge would want to release him but now cant because is has gone too far and they cant be seen to be backing down. This poor dog and his family are being used. Its an absolute disgrace. Deed not breed. BSL needs to be abolished.

    Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

  • Jessie | 26-Jun-2012 6:54 am

    I'd have BIG flipping issues if I was locked up by myself for over two years and taunted by my jailers. LENNOX is a dog. He cant understand why he is locked up.
    The F'n idiots. Theres more to this than just the BSL...the TRUTH will come out.
    I think of the Walls of Jericho...that has been scientifically proven ... so if we shout loud enough their walls of injustice will fall too!
    God Bless Lennox and his family and all who fight against animal injustices!

    Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

  • Anonymous | 26-Jun-2012 9:35 am

    This case is fascinating. Photos have recently been leaked of Lennox. (I have seen them but cannot vouch they are Lennox) He appears to be in an appalling state with wounds and stress injuries. There is mounting public support for a case to be lodged against Belfast council for animal cruelty and neglect. The family have been refused the right to see Lennox with the council saying it will stress him too much. The photos indicate there may be other reasons he is being hidden away.
    Latest development is that the family have found an adopter in the USA and are seeking to get Lennox flown over to spend his days there. The barrier however seems to be the council who are not being communicative.

    Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

  • Liefeith | 7-Jul-2012 5:14 pm

    To me this is rather an issue of Belfast Cuncil not being able of admitting, that they were wrong, seizing Lennox from his family.
    They play it to the bitter end.

    Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

  • Anonymous | 11-Jul-2012 1:20 pm

    It's all over now...
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-18794360

    Unsuitable or offensive? Report this comment

Have your say

Mandatory Required Fields

  • Print
  • Comments (6)

Most popular

Most commented

Most emailed