Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council (LCCC) is facing public criticism after ordering the euthanasia of a seven-month-old suspected pitbull puppy named 'Max.' The council's decision sparked a social media outcry, prompting LCCC to meet with the Ulster Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (USPCA) to discuss an independent assessment of Max's breed. While city councillors who visited Max at a boarding kennel expressed satisfaction with his living conditions, public debate continues about the council's stance on Breed Specific Legislation (BSL) and the ethical implications of euthanasia.
City councillors have visited a suspected pitbull puppy named ' Max ' at a boarding kennel to ensure his well-being amid a public campaign to save him from being euthanized. Max was found in Dundonald in early December 2024 and was deemed a banned breed under Breed Specific Legislation ( BSL ) by two council dog wardens, leading to a scheduled euthanasia.
However, a public outcry on social media prompted Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council (LCCC) to meet with the Ulster Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (USPCA) to discuss an independent third-party assessor who will determine Max's fate. Environment committee chairperson Pat Catney (SDLP) released a video to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) following an unannounced inspection of seven-month-old Max and his living conditions on January 11, 2025. Cllr Catney expressed his satisfaction with the care Max is receiving at the kennels, highlighting their cleanliness and adherence to animal welfare standards. Deputy environment chairperson Gary Hynds also visited the kennels after his proposal for an independent third-party assessor was not approved at a recent committee meeting. An online petition, 'Mercy for Max,' launched before Christmas, has garnered over 12,000 signatures urging the council to release the dog. The USPCA has also requested to foster Max until an independent assessment can be conducted. Public discussion on Facebook has raised concerns about Max's living conditions and criticized the council's actions, with some accusing them of playing God. Despite the public outcry and the USPCA's request, a council director has indicated that fostering Max is unlikely due to existing legislation regarding banned dog breeds. The LDRS understands that the original owner of Max has been contacted by the council but has refused to take him back. The case of Max echoes a previous incident in 2012, where Belfast City Council euthanized a seven-year-old pitbull-type dog named 'Lennox' despite a petition with nearly 200,000 signatures demanding his release. This event garnered international attention, with then-Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson publicly advocating for Lennox. According to current government guidelines, four breeds of dogs are banned in Northern Ireland: the Pit Bull terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, and Fila Brasiliero. Owning, breeding, selling, or gifting these dogs is illegal and carries penalties of up to six months imprisonment and a £5,000 fine. A dog identified as banned by a warden is presumed to be so unless proven otherwise in court. In most cases, courts will order the euthanasia of seized dogs, even if the council chooses not to prosecute the owner.
Max Pitbull BSL Euthanasia Lisburn And Castlereagh City Council USPCA Animal Welfare Breed Specific Legislation Public Outcry
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