http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/326534
Op-Ed: Lennox to die as N. Ireland court rules against dog
Jun 12, 2012 – 33 mins ago in Politics
Belfast – In a shocking decision by senior judges in Northern Ireland, Lennox, a Labrador/American Bulldog has been ordered destroyed. The ruling upholds the decision of two lower courts, to euthanize a dog that has committed no harm.
For two long years, the Barnes family have fought to bring their dog home after he was seized by the City of Belfast in May 2010 and ordered destroyed for being a “pit-bull type” dog.
The ruling came in response to an appeal by the family, and upheld the decision of two lower courts who decided under the Dangerous Dogs Act (DDA), that Lennox was a danger to the public and must be euthanized.
According to the DDA, a dog’s physical traits could bear influence on how it behaves and “pit-bull” types, like Lennox, are automatically deemed dangerous. In other words, Lennox was measured with a tape measure; he fit the profile, and was seized.
Yet Lennox has never threatened to harm a living soul, and even statements from celebrity and recognized canine experts attesting to the dog’s good-nature, have been consistently overthrown in favor of the testimony of one individual, Peter Tallack, a police dog handler and supporter of the DDA.
But when Tallack appeared in court said Joan Smith of the Huffington Post, the ‘breed identifier:’
Offered a quirky bit of testimony, [...and...] flustered, offered the opinion that Lennox was “waiting to go off.”
As a result Smith added, Lord Justice Girvan deemed Lennox “a disaster waiting to happen.” Disregarding the dog’s history, he ruled against Lennox based on the canine’s potential for aggressiveness at some ‘point’ in the future.
What?
Caroline Barnes and her family have owned Lennox since he was a pup. They are responsible owners who have cared for this dog diligently. Lennox, a beloved member of the family was also a therapy dog for a young, disabled Brook Barnes. Yet for the past two years, none of the family has seen Lennox, who it has been held it is said, under questionable conditions.
According to the BBC, Caroline Barnes’ “legal team went before the Court of Appeal seeking to compel the County Court judge who confirmed the destruction order to state a case on points of law.” But today, the Appeal Court judges dismissed that application. Lord Justice Girvan said:
The judge had heard evidence on the issues relating to this dog over a protracted two-day hearing, carefully considered the evidence and the issues and he reached conclusions of fact which have not been vitiated by any error of law on his part.
What about errors in common sense? The path this case has taken is disturbing; bolstered by dubious decisions, and a refusal to seek outside counsel, it has continued to defy belief and smacks of cronyism. Rightly so the Barnes family are devastated, having dedicated the last two years of their lives to saving the dog they love.
A brief Facebook post today, shared their pain:
Lennox’s family will release a statement in due course once they have had time to absorb today’s ruling by Chief Justice Girvan. The family kindly ask all supporters to remain calm and dignified as always in their response to today’s sad and very wrong decision by the Northern Ireland Chief Justice. Thank you.
One has to admire their class, for it is infinitely higher than that of decision makers who never having laid eyes on Lennox, have ordered him to die because of what he “might” do.
Lennox will be euthanized because of “what” he is, not “who” he is. And the ignorance and arrogance in that is astounding. Those involved in this despicable decision should hang their heads in shame and remember the words of Machiavelli:
It is not titles that honor men, but men that honor titles.
N. Ireland should fear for the integrity of its legal system.
Filed under: GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional
well out of order would this be allowed to happen to a human being just because u think it is violent but has never done anything wrong where is justice in this land an animal can die for a crime it has not committed what next shoot anybody we do not like on sight and get away with it law and justice stinks
This is a “Cruelty to animal” Case. The owners of this little dog should sue everyone involved.
No Torch for Belfast. This is a “Disgrace”
This is a completely unjust ruling without ANY merit and has absolutely no place in law. Lennox should be given back to his owners without any harm or restrictions to either.
The killing like this one egzist because humans are aggressive animal species,whether they act like a single ones or by working at the state offices- because eating wrong food:meat/milk/eggs.
Humans=animals eat other animals although humans are frugivores and by eating wrong food humans becoome to be aggressive and ill.. If you look at anatomy of Human Destructive caracter you can find :Cause of human destructive caracter is his wrong food : meat/milk/eggs.Although humans are ill because these wrong food, meat/milk/eggs “industries“ owners pay for representing interrests of these “industries“ owners, they own interests like a “national interests“- but they are not.
I know many humans who look like danger-but they are not, and also many humans, even Judges,who look like smart, clever- but they are not.Rules may not be based on principes: `look like`but only on evidences, because by “looks like“ rule Justice system violate human rights ,although every Justice system has crutial obligation protect human rights of every single human .Not of maiority , not of minority , but of every single human.That are right rules .