I Have A Dream

"I Have a Dream" is a 17-minute public speech by Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered on August 28, 1963, in which he called for an end to racism in the United States. Today we celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

Now is the time to lift our nation from the quick sands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children.

But there is something that I must say to my people who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice. In the process of gaining our rightful place we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred.

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.

And when this happens, when we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, "Free at last! free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"

These are excerpts from that great speech. Times have changed and we are seeing a new day of acceptance and brotherly love for our fellow man regardless of skin color, heritage, or religion.

Then we look at the progress that has taken many steps back for dogs in our great land of freedom. Dogs who are hated simply because of the way they look. There are always stories in the news of the pit bull who attacked and ravaged its victim but there are also stories of the pit bull who saved someone.  Guess which ones get the most hype and attention? The frightening stories have led to bans in many cities and towns ripping these beloved pets from their crushed owners. 

Lennox, although living in Ireland, became the universal poster dog for something gone terribly wrong. A five year old dog who never harmed anyone or anything was taken from his family to be locked away from the world. Why? The ONLY reason was because, even though he was a bulldog/lab mix, he looked like a pit bull which are banned.  He was mistreated as over time he fell into bad health, he was isolated as he was denied any contact with loved ones, he was prodded to attack as he repeatedly tried to show forgiveness with his body language.  

For two years people from all over the world came together to fight for him to no avail.  The government in charge claimed the then seven year old dog was destroyed as intended while many believe he died some time earlier under their watch. Was it illness? Was he beaten down? Did he succumb to a broken heart? All questions that we will never have answers.

How many dogs have, and will, face this unwarranted hatred simply because of the way they look? Breed-specific legislation (BSL) is a law that bans or restricts certain types of dogs based only on their appearance because they are perceived as “dangerous” breeds or types of dogs. Do you live in the Untied States and want to know if your dog is affected by this discrimination? Find out here. BSL is slowly seeping into our society eroding the very foundation in which dogs were created and surely must be stopped. 

The other evil? The number of animals being euthanized in our country's shelters.  The dogs nobody wants, the dogs that are too sick, the dogs that are too expensive to shelter, the reasons go on and on. I cry for these dogs as well because I don't understand the problem.  It breaks my heart to think how many wonderful, loving dogs never get that second chance but instead leave the shelter through the back door in plastic garbage bags.

Two of our fosters, Gracie (Sophia) and Odie (Dobby), were pulled from shelters within hours of being euthanized which is a fancy word for murdered.  Both of these dogs are now healthy, happy dogs living with families who love them so much.  Apparently, they WERE wanted!

Today I also have a dream.  One day I pray my dream will become a reality. 

Kirby Could Be Lennox

It is always ok to have an opinion.  In fact, an opinion is never wrong because it is what one believes to be true.  I try to treat people as God would have me treat them.  I try to respect each person’s point of view with an understanding that their beliefs may differ from mine.  At times I agree to disagree.

I am a blogger which means my posts are as truthful as I can make them but they are biased since they surely reflect my opinion. I willingly put myself out there for the public to scrutinize with every post I write.  I have so much respect for fellow bloggers who are doing the same thing.  I have read a lot of amazing posts by some truly creative, talented, caring bloggers.

Just this week another blogger wrote a post recently concerning Lennox which was one of the most biased, negative posts I have ever read.  She declared she was only reporting the facts, however those facts were so taken out of context as to change the truth.  There were many comments disagreeing with this blogger who only heightened the rising anger with her callous responses.  Reading her responses I got so angry I truly wanted to slap this woman.

What this blogger doesn’t seem to grasp is that Lennox is not just another story about a bad dog put down.  It’s a story millions of people have followed about a dog who was tested over and over to prove he was dangerous yet continued to prove he was not.  Lennox supposedly died a week ago today and I still get upset when I think about the monstrous way this dog and his family was treated.  What this blogger does not realize is the wound is still too raw for so many who believed good would win over evil and this dog would live out a safe, happy life. 

Right now many are in mourning for a dog they never met yet still felt a connection.  Lennox is not about dogs that are dumped by their owners or overpopulated by breeders or even pit bulls in general.  Lennox is about a family dog ripped from his home under the Dangerous Dog Act because of his measurements and, after two years of hell, was murdered even though there were other options available.  Lennox is about the world coming together to fight for ONE dog because that ONE dog could be their dog. 

Yes, Lennox is just a dog.  Who had a family that dearly loved him.  Kirby is just a dog. Who has a family that dearly loves him.  There’s a thing going around FaceBook right now where people are replacing their profile pics with pictures of their dogs with the words “I Am Lennox” written across the bottom.  

My Kirby could be Lennox…     

Kirby is a three year old 15 lb dachshund yorkie mix. He has been socialized since a puppy attending many events with crowds and is very well trained. He knows many tricks and has earned his Good Canine Citizenship and Novice Rally Title. He is fearless always ready to try something new. He shows such gentleness with small children knowing to be calm and sweet.

One Saturday afternoon not long ago I was in the backyard with Kirby and one of our foster dogs when the gas guy came by to read my meter which is located inside the fenced backyard. For whatever reason Kirby became very aggressive and started barking and jumping up at him from the moment he entered the yard. He completely ignored my commands to stop and I had to grab him up in my arms. He drew blood with a nip through the man’s pant leg.  I have never in three years seen him do this!  

Sometimes I wonder if Kirby was picking up some sort of vibe from this man which made him think I was in danger? It doesn't really matter the reason because that one little bite could have turned my world upside down.

What if the authorities came and took him away? What if I could not see him for two years? What if I only saw a few pictures showing him living in horrible conditions? What if I only saw pictures of his shiny soft coat in patches and heard he had an injured neck and bloody paw? What if one day he was walked into a room that smelled of death?  What if in the moments he took his last breaths he wondered why I never came for him? What if I couldn’t have his little lifeless body to properly bury? What if I couldn’t even have his collar, the one I bought just for him, to remember him by?

Yes, this is an exaggeration because nothing ever happened.  Oh wait, something did happen.  It happened to a 7 year old dog far away in Belfast, Ireland.  The only difference was that dog never bit someone like Kirby did. 

Everyone has an opinion.  Everyone is entitled to their opinion.  What is not acceptable is flagrant disregard for people’s emotions in a highly emotional situation. Someone said, “Life’s not fair”. My response is, “So what are we gonna do about it”?   

Lennox - Poster Dog for BSL

According to reports Lennox was murdered this past Wednesday, July 11, 2012, in Belfast, Ireland.  His needless death has ignited a spark that has been festering for over two years.  This "dangerous dog case" has sparked such controversy in the hearts of many setting the stage for those who would rally for his life and those who would support those who wanted him destroyed.  In any event there is no room left for nuetrality. The end of the story is this is just the beginning. Each must now choose their side as a growing storm rumbles across the lands.

Breed Specific Legislation has been going strong for some time now throughout the world.  It's nothing new.  What is new is now there is a poster dog for everything wrong with BSL.  No complaints, no bites, legally licensed as an American Bulldog/Lab. The world pleaded, celebrities and politicians joined in the protest, even the First Prime Minister of Ireland pled for his life. Cesar Millan, Jeff Coltenback, the Italian Ministers, and Victoria Stillwell, who was actually there in person that fateful day, all made earnest requests to rehome him to another country at their expense yet Belfast was committed to murdering Lennox supposedly for the crime of looking like a Pit Bull. 

For the past two years I have followed this case where a healthy family pet was taken into custody because of his measurements and detained while his family battled for his life in an undeterred court system bent on his destruction.  There are articles and posts all over the web for all to read the many details of this long court drama so I won't rehash the disturbing facts except to say, given the facts and expert witnesses, I naively thought Lennox would eventually be released.

What I want to focus on is the inhumane treatment this dog and his family suffered culminating in the most inhumane treatment a family should have to endure.  

I write this as Kirby sleeps next to me without a care in the world because he knows he is safe from harm.  Our current foster sleeps close to him. They are comfortable lying on a soft blanket in an air conditioned room.  Their bellies are full from dinner.  Toys lie scattered on the floor waiting should they want to play. I'm quite sure Lennox lived like this until two years ago when he was taken from his family and thrust into the dark legal system that would eventually take his life.  

 

The truth will eventually come out, at which time I will either be vindicated for what I believe happened or I will have to admit I was wrong. The first thing that bothers me are the pictures leaked to the web showing his living quarters and deteriorating health.  His family must have felt so wounded every time they saw these pictures knowing they couldn't comfort him or tend to his wounds.

The BCC had to be aware of these pictures and therefore had every opportunity to produce pictures showing Lennox in acceptable surroundings - a clean kennel, a soft bed, clean bowls of food and water. Before anyone says, "Have you seen how many dogs live in concrete kennels in shelters around the world?" I want to clarify that this dog had a family who, given the opportunity, would have provided these "luxuries".  I sometimes wonder if they did send these items for their Len who never received them.  Many, myself included, provide beds and toys to the local shelters where they ARE utilized for the dogs and cats in their care.

There are pictures of Lennox showing his coat deteriorating with missing patches of fur.  There is testimony of an apparent neck injury and one of his back paws being covered in dried blood.  Again, the BCC had every opportunity to show their regard for his well being in their care with pictures and reports by veterinarians tending to his health. I've read the family will be required to pay for his boarding.  I'm sure they would have happily paid for veterinary care as well.

My final dismay is his "humane" death with no final goodbye from the ones he loved even though the family begged to be with him in his final moments.  This is what truly breaks my heart.  Before all of this he was a happy, loved family member for five years.  Did he look in anticipation for a family member every time someone came to his kennel?  Did he have a glimmer of hope that he was being taken to his family every time he was led from his kennel?  Did he wonder, day after day, week after week, month after month, what he had done wrong for his family to throw him away? I've read that dogs seem to know they are about to be put down so I wonder if he gave up in those last moments knowing he would never see his family or home again. Being a dog, he had no way of knowing his loved ones were fighting for his life every second of every day he was locked away.  

There are so many dogs discarded every day by owners who no longer want them.  I know this because I foster some of these dogs.  When they come to my home they are always scared and withdrawn.  It takes time to gain their trust, time to make them understand they are safe, time for them to learn to be happy dogs again.

I am fortunate to have Kirby's help.  He is the ultimate therapy dog as he shows them how they should behave, how to play again, how to just be a dog again.  He has a calm demeanor which they quickly adopt.  Lennox also lived in a home where foster dogs came and went with never an altercation.  It's been said he was a therapy dog for the Barnes young disabled daughter.  Was he also a therapy dog for the fosters that entered his home?

The BCC refused to concede he was a dog worth saving.  They were so determined to prove him an aggressive dangerous dog which I think is why the option of rehoming him was ignored.  What if they had been proven wrong?  Then again I wonder that if in their attempts to force him to become aggressive, something may have gone terribly wrong.  Did Lennox finally snap and attack only to be beaten down?

Throughout this process I held hope that this council would admit how wrong they were.  Today I now believe Lennox died long before July 11, 2012.  I believe his body was disposed of a long time ago which would explain why the request to rehome him was denied, why the request for his body to be returned to the family for proper burial was denied, and why the request for the collar he was wearing was denied.  

I do hope there is an inquisition.  The Barnes family, and the world who fought so valiantly for him, deserve answers.  When did Lennox actually die? How did he die? Who was there with him when he died? Why did not one council member step up to say "What we are doing is not right!"

A beloved family pet with no history of aggression was murdered because the law said he could be destroyed simply because he resembled a dangerous dog breed. My soul screams this is wrong on so many levels.  I have chosen which side of the fence I am on.  Have you chosen which side you are on?