Barking Blondes: RIP Lennox, agression training and DeedNOTBreed

Lennox, the Joan Of Arc of the dog world, was humanely put to sleep in Belfast this week. Being bull breed owners ourselves, we had been following his plight since he had been placed on death row two years ago. Whereas our dogs, Molly and Matilda, one a miniature bull terrier the other a British bull dog, receive a lot of positive attention, Lennox was seen as a danger.

Resembling  an American pit bull terrier, he was considered, by Belfast City Council, to be “one of the most unpredictable and dangerous dogs they had ever come across”. He had the look of a banned dog – the pit bull.  His family fought to save him along with thousands of petitioners. The dog world can often be seen as cliquey and bitchy (in every sense) but Lennox united many of them in an appeal against his death.

The controversial dog whisperer, Cesar Millan, added his weight to the cause along with his female counterpart, Victoria Stilwell – both offered to train or adopt Lennox. These two TV personalities live in The United States, where the breed is not generally banned. In fact Cesar’s pit bull, Daddy, was loved throughout the world and used as an example of a well-balanced, obedient, domesticated pet. Cesar says “a pit bull is simply a dog in a pit bull costume”

American celebrities such as Jessica Biel and Linda Blair own pit bulls and Teddy Roosevelt favored the breed above all others. In this country, all of the above mentioned dogs would be banned. A dog type is not a breed .The dog is banned purely from what it looks like.

Can you imagine this in the human world? Discrimination on appearance?

Those who fought for Lennox’s survival, argued that any dog can be dangerous. They all have teeth. They all have moods. They can all get stroppy over a bone.

On Tuesday, we were over at the local tennis courts with our two when Matilda went lolloping off to sniff out the abandoned tennis balls. After a couple of minutes of searching we were aghast to see the sight of her being fed bourbons from the hand of a toddler whilst the mother looked on. Apart from the risk of chocolate poisoning to our dog, the child had placed herself in danger from the docile, chubby mutt. Matilda will grab food from any outstretched hand and if a finger is in the way… help.

American pit bulls were bred to bring down pigs… docile little Molly and Matilda’s breeds were bred to bait bears and then bulls. Of these three breeds, two can play in London parks, the other can’t.

Lennox’s death, hopefully, will continue the discussion over owner and breeder (breed?) responsibility.

Dog lovers are fighting for the term DeedNOTBreed to be approved so that any dog, no matter what it looks like, will be penalized for misbehaving, but really, it is the owners who will be prosecuted, as a dog is only as good as its owner. And the responsibility for a dog lies with the human at the end of the lead.

Finally, one of us was mugged on a London street at 2am last Thursday morning. Neither of the dogs were present. Would either of them have sprung at the muggers in our defence? Probably not. Why? Because this type of aggression has been trained out of them. You can teach old dogs new tricks. Lennox, unfortunately, won’t be one of them. Who is protecting whom in this debate?

Barking at the Moon, Thursdays, 10pm-midnight on BBC London 94.9fm

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• madgooner1

  Are pit bulls banned? I’m sure i have seen one in my local park in a muzzle.

• stonedwolf

  “Those who fought for Lennox’s survival, argued that any dog can be dangerous. They all have teeth. They all have moods. They can all get stroppy over a bone.”

  It’s this thinking that gives weight to the dangerous dogs legislation. Any dog can attack, but pit-bulls are much more likely to attack and more likely to inflict grievous injuries, than other breeds.

  For example, one study showed 95% of PB attacks on children were unprovoked, compared to 40% by other breeds. Other studies, be they five, ten, or fifteen year studies, show PBs more likely to attack and more likely to be invovled in very serious injury.

  One review summarised “attacks by pit bulls are associated with higher morbidity rates, higher hospital charges, and a higher risk of death than are attacks by other breeds of dogs”.

  So, yes, any dog can attack. But just as bullets can kill us so too can we choke to death on a peanut, but one should be wary of equating an FAL Battle Rifle with a packet of Dry Roasted.

• Ziggydog

  It’s so draconian that in that in our ‘open society’ such racism to certain breeds continues and 21 years on from the introduction of the DDA, nothing seems to be changing, despite so much lobbying! With public funding at a minimum, it’s ironic that the DDA is costing taxpayers thousands a year. This money could be spent on education or a dog ownership test like they have in some other countries in Europe.

• http://www.facebook.com/sue.benstock Sue Benstock

  Cruelty, perjury, neglect all spring to mind.

  From the moment this innocent family dog was seized his fate was sealed:
  A dog warden who lied.
  A so called expert who lied.
  … A judge who only took the word of a liar.
  A holding kennels which obviously neglected his welfare.

  Professional, respected dog behaviourists who were ignored.
  Assessments with video evidence which showed Lennox to be a sweet natured dog with no aggression whatsoever.
  A get out to save the councils face – a new home in the USA dismissed.

  What a catalogue of of deceit. Now there has to be justice for Lennox and his family – an independent enquiry to reveal the TRUTH & prosecution for those who are so obviously guilty.

• http://www.facebook.com/people/Buzz-Teddy-Head/1720561042 Buzz Teddy Head

  The dog was probably in such a bad state of health that they couldn’t let anyone see it. That would explain them refusing a foster home in a country where the breed is legal, and the refusal of a last visit.

• marcbletchley

  I cant believe im reading this weeks blog ive had to catch up as was un aware of this case.
  i cant understand some people reaction to this all i can say what a sad ending for lennox.
  Lets hope next weeks blog is more fluffy and better.
  love the show barking at the moon another part of the jigsaw for us overnight family on 94.9
  woof woof from bletchley towers

• http://twitter.com/GoodDogPuppy DogPuppyTraining.org

  Its appalling to hear that a dog will be discriminated against because of the way they look. What I don’t understand is despite the fact that the dog was also offered training as a way to save its life, that was still denied.

  Its a fact that all dogs are dangerous in some form, what are they going to do next, put all dogs down?

• http://twitter.com/ChelseaBeanss Chelsea

  Join us in abolishing BSL – https://www.facebook.com/groups/473470059348352/ and sign the petition http://www.thepetitionsite.com/817/837/410/lennox-law/

• http://www.facebook.com/people/Karen-C-Chamberlain/1241322314 Karen C Chamberlain

  I have found this so hard to listen to and deal with one worrd from me DISGUSTING Woof Woof Ladies thank you for bringing THRE THUTH to your blog love ya xxxxx