Sunday, April 03, 2011

Save Lennox

Just to spread word about the "Save Lennox" campaign. You can read the details of the case on the link above, but briefly: it's about the horrible mistreatment of a dog in Ireland, who has been taken away from his family (including a disabled 12-year-old girl for whom he was a companion and best friend) and locked up in a cage for 11 months - all because of an archaic legislation that says Pit Bull dogs have to be put to death.

As it happens, Lennox isn't a pit bull in the first place. But breed-specific legislation is ludicrous anyway. In the context of human rights and liberties, we have words for such things, and none of them are good words (some of them wouldn't have been good words even two hundred years ago, when our attitudes to individual freedom, racial differences and gender rights were very different from today). There is no excuse for such unconscionable cruelty.

With the Save Lennox campaign gaining some momentum internationally, the authorities concerned have been trying to suppress information about the case, reporting Facebook links as abuse, and so on. If you care enough about the issue (and please keep in mind that animal rights is no longer the only thing at stake here), please do spread the word among your friends and request them to sign the Save Lennox Petition. Also, see the "How you can help" page on the website - it has a list of email addresses. My friend Hemali Sodhi, who alerted me to the case, has already written to the Irish ambassador in India, but every little contribution is very welcome.


Update: comments have mysteriously been vanishing from my Facebook-page link to the Save Lennox campaign - it could, of course, be a temporary glitch, but I'm inclined to be more cynical about the whole thing. So I've put some of the comments on this post. This one by Hemali Sodhi is particularly relevant:
The idea is to break down Lennox so that he will be so changed that they can say 'I told you so.' This whole situation has been making me sick - I've seen Lennox's photos in his cell, surrounded by his own faeces with no water in sight, and... trust me, you don't want to see them. To top it all, for all of us crusading for his freedom, there have been vicious attacks on facebook. The original Save Lennox FB page with over 30,000 supporters had to be pulled down Saturday because of disturbing attacks. No comment can be posted on BCC.
 
I've even offered to move him to India and pay for all expenses - not the best solution but surely one to take into account if they cannot have him in Belfast? No response. we're being stonewalled at every step of the way. What we really need to do is spread the word like wildfire here; create noise, get attention globally so people know Belfast is getting a severe dent in its reputation because of this.
Once again, please do spread the word if this matters to you.

15 comments:

  1. This is heartbreaking. People don't realise how blessed they are to have animals in their lives, and I really believe (as mad as it sounds) that dogs are higher beings sent to live with us. Those who are so cruel have prebooked berths (or rather cold, stone kennels) in hell. There is no excuse. Have spread the word as widely as I can.

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  2. Those who are so cruel have prebooked berths (or rather cold, stone kennels) in hell.

    Comforting thought, no? Wish I could believe it. Far more likely that such louts will fare no worse on average than the people with genuine compassion.
    But thanks for spreading the word!

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  3. This is most ridiculous. Sometimes human behaviour defies comprehension.

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  4. It's like a pogrom. Oh god Jai, this is so upsetting. And why? And for what? And the cynic that i am, i wonder if anything will change for the poor animal. Argh.

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  5. Divya: I don't know how that family is even coping with this situation. If something like this happened to my kid, I would lose my sanity or take to the streets with a machine gun, or something such...

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  6. Prerna: even if they let him go soon, I don't know if his mental faculties will still be intact. He's basically spent 7-8 dog-years away from the only home and family he knew, in miserable conditions. And without even the advantage of understanding what's been done to him. A locked-up human being would at least have that.

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  7. the idea is to break down Lennox so that he will be so changed that they can say 'I told you so.' This whole situation has been making me sick - I've seen Lennox's photos in his cell, surrounded by his own faeces with no water in sight, and... trust me, you don't want to see them. to top it all, for all of us crusading for his freedom, there have been vicious attacks on facebook. the original save lennox fb page with over 30,000 supporters had to be pulled down saturday because of disturbing attacks. no comment can be posted on BCC. I've even offered to move him to India and pay for all expenses - not the best solution but surely one to take into account if they cannot have him in Belfast? No response. we're being stonewalled at every step of the way. what we really need to do is spread the word like wildfire here; create noise, get attention globally so people know Belfast is getting a severe dent in its reputation because of this.

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  8. Thanks for the post on the FB page. Spreading the word as far as possible.

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  9. This is such a brave campaign idea. I really think that animals are the only beings that need our help, the most. I will send this link to all my friends. I want to help..

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  10. If Lennox was in Vietnam... D-O-G help him!

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  11. Once the Conman: dude, don't I know it - saw some horrific photos on your blog!

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  12. Not sure if they'd want to eat bulldog-labrador crosses though...

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  13. so much ado over a dog in ireland!!! what the hell is wrong with you people!!!

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  14. Shocking! Cruel world. Let's just hope this soon stops.

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  15. i am so heartbroken,every time i read about poor lennox. I am disgusted by the lies told by B CC and for what? I truly feel helpless but hope he is released soon where he should be.For Lennox to be kept how he is with sores and cuts and in his own wee and poo beggars belief.... Does the judge not realise this? What is going on with B CC and the law out there.You cannot just walk in to someones home and take their family therapy dog.He has done nothing and anyone in their right minds can see lennox is a lab cross...What is wrong with them! I am very sad and cant stop thinking about him ,am hoping and praying he is FREE soon.HUGS LENNOX X

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