Stan Rawlinson (Doglistener) Dog Behaviour and Obedience Trainer

Breed Specific Legislation and the Save Lennox Campaign



Lennox in solitary surrounded by his own faeces

 Lennox, is a five year old American Bulldog x Labrador. Who was seized by the Belfast City Council Dog Wardens from his family home where he lived with his owners and his pals (other Dogs). Lennox had done nothing wrong. He hadn't attacked anyone, there were no complaints at all registered against him. Amazingly the warrant was actually for a different address.

Lennox’s family have apparently  done everything required by the law as responsible dog owners . They also foster dogs for various Northern Ireland dog shelters. When Lennox was a puppy his owners had him neutered, licensed, insured, DNA registered, Pet Safe registered and micro chipped and although the Belfast City Council have issued a dog licence for Lennox for the last five years and continue to do so today.
The Council now find the need to class him as of Pit Bull type and intend to put him down. Yet this same council declared his 'litter-brother' a Labrador cross. I would be interested in their logic regarding this.


 As a professional dog behaviourist and obedience trainer. part of my work centres around assessing dogs under the Dangerous Dogs Act of 1991. That is dogs that are of banned breeds or that are dangerously out of control in a public place.

Lennox as a puppy

If they are deemed to be of a banned breed type. (please note the term type) they are snatched from their loving homes. locked in secure kennels where the owners cannot visit them or check on their health or well being. Whilst the dogs are there they are in solitary confinement with no other dogs for comfort or solace. Please remember that dogs are pack animals. This is arbitrary and no case against these animals has been heard or even started when they are taken away.


It is heart rending. Sometimes these dogs are in these conditions for years before a case is heard in court. I find some of the dogs I have to test, are not of one of the ban breeds and the initial assessor had got it wrong


I may then be called to put these facts to a court. Often decisions are taken over the length of the leg, or the shape of the tail or the distance between the eyes and the nose. The measurements that are taken have to prove beyond doubt that the dog is, or is not, of pit bull type. The dog only has to be 60% of pit bull type to be classed as a banned breed.

I offered to assess Lennox for free last year, but my request was ignored. I did not even get the courtesy of an acknowledgement. Unfortunately Northern Ireland never updated their legislation when we amended the act in 1997 to stop automatic destruction orders. Therefore all dogs that are deemed of a banned breed in NI are automatically euthanised.

Please help spread awareness of this terrible tragedy. The family are distraught including their 12 year old daughter who is disabled. Lennox was her therapy dog. Both her and her dog are suffering terribly.

What truly confuses me about the DDA (dangerous dogs act) is it's overriding assumption on what constitutes a dangerous dog. As yet no one has managed to prove that in any animal including humans, that nature alone determines the behavioural nature of that animal. Therefore suggesting that nurture plays no part. By banning specific breeds the legislators have effectively stated that nature alone determines the outcome of any dog. That effectively states that all animals including humans are born either bad or good, and no amount of education, upbringing and social position can have any impact on the way it was born.

I find that assumption to be ludicrous, and it flies in the face of all known psychological and behavioural studies.


Please help by signing the petition to have him released via the links below, distribute this information as widely as possible and using every media possible to help bring this innocent dog home. Time is running out for Lennox the clock is ticking down for his final walk. You can make the difference. See Below.


"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated."


--Ghandi



Official Save Lennox Website



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