A last-minute appeal to give a five-month puppy a home for Christmas looks set to end in heartbreak despite a petition to allow him out of kennels gaining almost 7,000 signatures.
Max, a five-month-old ‘bulldog-type’ breed, was found abandoned last week and was due to be destroyed by Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council.
After the intervention of Co Antrim dog lover Zara Duncan, who had previously agreed to foster the dog over the Christmas period, the council appeared to have backtracked on the decision to euthanise Max.
Despite being told by dog experts at last week’s council meeting that Max should be at least nine months old before his breed could be determined, the council has said since that it will arrange an assessment “as early as possible in the New Year”.
Thousands of people have since joined in calling for the dog to be saved following an online appeal.
With the threat to his life remaining in place, Zara, from Antrim, said the action by the council had left her heartbroken, adding that Max had “done nothing wrong other than to look a certain way”.
The USPCA has said that the case highlights the flaws in current breed-specific legislation and added that it is working with the council to try to find the best solution for Max.
Chief executive Nora Smith said the organisation has been in constant contact with the council.
“We have a duty to look after the welfare of Max and to ensure public safety,” she said.
“Max is only five months old, he is of no danger to the public and we believe he should not be kept in kennels any longer than is necessary,” she said.
“Max is too young to ‘type’ as any specific breed. We believe he should be allowed to a foster home as at his age that is where he will learn all his social skills.”
She also said the plight of Max calls into question legislation around specific breeds.
“Breed-specific legislation is not working,” she said. “We have argued this before. Every dog is different and needs to be assessed on temperament and personality, not what it looks like,” she added.
“We will continue to work towards finding a compromise that suits all parties. The last thing we want is to see the life of a dog as young as Max needlessly ended by a council following legislation that doesn’t work.”
Lisburn and Castlereagh Council said it was “very mindful of the significant public commentary and concern surrounding this issue,
“At the council meeting on 17 December, it was agreed to arrange an additional assessment to provide further assurance on the identification of the breed. We will appoint an independent, external agency to complete this assessment as early as possible in the New Year.
“The dog is currently safe and secure and will be looked after in a DAERA-approved kennel until the testing is complete.
“The legislation is clear that the dog cannot be temporarily re-homed as it has been identified as a banned breed. It would be considered an offence for the Council to place this dog in the care of any individual or family. No action will be taken until further assessment is complete.
“We understand that this is a very distressing situation. We are committed to ensuring that all necessary measures are taken and that we are compliant with relevant legislation in the interests of public safety.”
Zara is refusing to give up fighting for Max and has now set up an online petition calling for the council to allow him to live in “a loving foster home”.
“Max does not deserve to spend his first Christmas incarcerated in kennels and as an untyped dog there is no reason he should,” she said.
“To hear what the council plans is devastating.”
“It was agreed that Max could not be robustly identified as a pit bull type thanks to the intervention of the USPCA who have been phenomenal in their help with his situation,” she added.
“He is simply too young. The advice from Breed Specific Legislation (BSL) professionals was clear — any third-party assessment of Max needs to be postponed until Max is at least nine months old when he is fully grown.”