Councillors Praise Care for ‘Death Row Dog’ Max After Surprise Kennel Visit
Councillors express satisfaction with Max’s care following a surprise visit to the kennels amid public outcry to save him from euthanasia
Max, Dundonald, Pit Bull Terrier, Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council, USPCA
Dundonald: So, Max is this pup who got into a bit of trouble. He was found back in December and was set to be put down because some council dog wardens thought he was a Pit Bull Terrier, which is a big no-no under the law.
But then, people on social media really rallied for him. There was a huge outcry, and now the Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council is meeting with the USPCA to figure out what to do next.
Last Saturday, Pat Catney, who heads the council’s environment committee, dropped by the kennels where Max has been staying since December 9. He didn’t give them a heads-up, just showed up to see how Max was doing.
And guess what? He was really impressed with how well Max is being taken care of. He mentioned getting tons of emails about the little guy and was happy to see everything was clean and tidy.
Gary Hynds, the deputy chairperson, also checked in on Max. There’s even an online petition called ‘Mercy for Max’ that’s gathered over 12,000 signatures, asking for him to be released while they sort out his breed situation.
Some folks on Facebook have been questioning how Max is living, while others think the council is being a bit harsh, calling it “death by tape measure.”
Cllrs Pat Catney and Gary Hynds with Max the dog
A council director has said they can’t just foster Max out because of the laws around certain breeds. They’ve even tried to reach out to Max’s original owner, but that person isn’t interested in taking him back.
Mr. Catney was really pleased with the cleanliness of the kennels and said all the standards for taking care of little dogs like Max were being met. He was honestly surprised at how well everything was maintained.
There are these five freedoms for animal welfare that are supposed to be followed everywhere, and they include things like freedom from hunger and pain, and the right to express normal behavior.
In a tweet, Mr. Hynds said Max was super friendly and well cared for. He’s pushing for a quick resolution for Max’s situation and wants the council to work with the USPCA to get a third-party assessor involved.
He also mentioned that the laws around this whole situation need to be looked at again. It’s a big deal, especially since back in 2012, a similar case with a dog named Lennox ended tragically despite a massive petition to save him.