Joseph and Margaret Trueman were newlyweds when they left Ireland for America at the turn of the 20th century.
Carefully transported in her trunk, Margaret brought the family bible. If you turn the delicate gold-edged pages to the section separating the old testament from the new testament, you will find the meticulously recorded births of all five of her sons, as well as the death of the one who did not survive.
Margaret Trueman was my great-grandmother, I found her bible when I was cleaning out my grandmother’s basement. The cover has seen better days, but the words transcribed inside still remain to this day.
Many has been the day when I carefully turn the pages of that old bible, running my hands along the soft, silky pages and thinking of her and the life she left behind in Ireland.
I wonder, what dreams compelled her to leave the only home she knew and travel to another country far away from home and kin. I wonder if America helped her fulfill those dreams.
She died when I was very small and sadly I have no memory of her.
My whole life I’ve dreamed of going to Ireland, to the family farm for visits with cousins so far removed we can’t even determine how we are related. Settled in at the old kitchen table, over cups of tea, with cream made fresh on the farm, we will get to know each other, to share our lives and dreams.
Today I dream of a world, where pets aren’t yanked out of loving arms and condemned to die, just because of the way they look.
Hey Belfast City Council, today’s WTF Wednesday is all yours.
Lennox the dog ‘humanely put to sleep’ – Belfast, Ireland
I don’t know about you, but I call bullshit.
There is nothing humane about what the Belfast City Council did to Lennox or his family.
If you live in the ‘dog’ world, you more than likely know about Lennox, deemed a ‘dangerous breed’ by the Belfast City Council, he was removed from his family and sentenced to die.
For the last two years, Lennox remained isolated from his family, alone but certainly not forgotten. For two years his family fought valiantly for his return but they were denied every step of the way.
Despite the fact that well-known dog trainers offered to take Lennox and bring him to the United States, the city council refused.
Victoria Stillwell flew to Ireland prepared to take Lennox on a moment’s notice, still the council refused.
No, the Nazi’s of the dog world had spoken.
This morning the sad news was released that Lennox was put to sleep.
Truthfully I’m not surprised and I’ll tell you why.
My belief is that Lennox has been gone for quite some time. What other explanation is there for not allowing anyone to see the dog in two years, why would they refuse to allow the family to have the body of the dog? Why did the council vehemently refuse any and all offers to re-home the dog?
Because the dog was already gone.
Whether he died from their negligence or whether they just went ahead and euthanized him before all efforts in court were exhausted, I truly believe they COULD NOT produce the dog.
Run Fast, Run Free Lennox
Sadly Ireland does not stand alone in their ignorance. Many cities in this country have Breed Specific Legislation and it’s wrong. A dog should never be judged on looks alone.
When will we learn to punish the deed and not the breed?
I have a dream that one day we all will be judged by what’s in our hearts, not by how we look.
Run Fast, Run Free Lennox, you may be gone but those you left behind will continue to fight.
A very sad and tragic story indeed! I feel for the family, I can not even begin to imagine the nightmare they and Lennox have endured.
Sadly this is what may be in store for all dog owners. Sadly there are many movements that want nothing more than to regulate dogs, dog sales, dog breeders and dog owners. The case of Lennox, as heart breaking as it is, just goes to show what can happen when citizens give up their freedom in the name of security. Sorry Lennox you were a victim of overreaching and unchecked government. Live and let live. My motto.
THANKS JODI HE DESERVES TO BE MOURNED I HAVE HAD A SAD DAY, CAN’T IMAGINE THE FAMILIES FEELINGS. HE INSPIRED ME TO SPEAK OUT, SILENCE IS CONCENT… RIP LENNOX.
An interesting insight, I hadn’t even considered that he was probably already gone. What other reason could there possibly be to not allow the family to see him one last time or to allow him to live in another country? The whole story is heartbreaking and maddening. WTF is exactly right.
You know, someone made a comment on my Facebook page today saying the same thing & i spent most of the day thinking about it. Here’s my take. None of us can comprehend how the city council wouldn’t allow sanctuary, a last visit or the body to be released. Inconceivable cruelty and a pathological lack of compassion, right? So we make up theories to explain because we can’t understand the inhumanity of it. But I chose to face the unspeakable behavior of the city council. It serves as a tragic example of what BSL truly is – a policy fueled by hate, intolerance, prejudice, and all that is wrong with humanity. So wrong that not only do they execute innocent dogs but they also treat a family fighting to save a loved one so despicably. I face it because it fuels me to stand up for what is right and good and just. because we can’t let those kinds of a**holes win.
I just wish that justice will be done to those horrible people [whether guilt or court] [It’s Northern Ireland by the way] Sorry if I sound bitter but they really had NO excuse for what they did. And on laws… I seem to recall laws for colored people not so long ago. Living societies are meant to review their laws to make them better, or not? Too late for Lennox but I hope he is the last victim of BSL.
RIP Sweet Lennox
Hey Sampson, Hey Delilah, Jet here. Hi Miss Jodi.
Thanks for sharing a bit of your heritage, makes for a richer life.
As for Lennox, we tried to help the campaign, and hope he finds the life he deserved here over the Rainbow Bridge. ugh…
The arrogance of the Belfast City Council was astounding. Power over life and death is the most awesome responsibility anyone could ever have. And this responsibility was taken far too lightly.
I’ve been wondering the same thing… Was Lennox actually put to sleep just yesterday, or has he been gone for a while now? They won’t release the body to the family, they didn’t allow them to come and say goodbye, and they won’t even give his collar to little Brooke who wanted to keep it as a memory of her dog. That all seems particularly shady to me, and we’ve seen the “leaked” pictures of the condition he was in… fur missing, sores on his skin…
This entire story breaks my heart.
There was nothing human or with common sense about the whole process, I agree with you, Lennox fate was sealed the moment he was taken away. For me it’s impossible to believe that the authorities wouldn’t yield to the pressure from the outside, I’m not saying change their mind(which would have been the right thing to do but obviously impossible because surely Lennox was long gone) but at least show a human gesture and allow the family to see him.
I agree with 2browndwags, that the society as a whole is in part responsible for these kind of judgments of character based on isolated cases, people is quick to pass judgment and believe that something must be done without any further investigation. This whole thing is nothing short of an atrocity.
BTW, I liked the intro.
Each time I read about this, it brings tears to my eyes. I am appalled at the people who would do such a thing. I feel blessed to be in South Africa where we do not, as yet, have such laws. I can only hope that they never come. How can anyone judge a dog by it’s looks. It’s absurd!
This is totally splitting hairs, especially since both the UK/Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland have BSL and enforce said legislation, but it was Northern Ireland who made this decision. A government which hasn’t been historically famous for valuing lives, human or canine. Perhaps it’s not fair to bring up a horrific past but I don’t think these two things are mutually exclusive. Really I guess I just don’t know what to say about it all anymore.
In some ways I almost hope you are right and that Lennox was put out of his suffering long ago. No dog should have to live like that for two years.
I hope everyone involved in this horrible decision really gets what’s coming to them and then some. If I was a member of Lennox’s 2 legged family, I would be so crazy with grief and anger that I would probably haunt these people to the day I died. So sad and unjust.
Jodi – I hadn’t thought about whether Lennox was alive throughout the entire 2 year ordeal, but now that you put it out there, it’s hard to think he was. Poor boy. RIP sweet Lennox.
I didn’t know that no one was allowed to see Lennox in two years. I think your assumption might be right Jodi.
Jodi, I loved how you told your little story about your great-grandmother! And unfortunately you are probably right about poor Lennox. I cannot imagine anyone taking my girls just because they are Shih Tzu’s! WTF.
I just couldn’t bring myself to write about Lennox without losing it totally. If I could have I would have written what you did.
Lennox’s story makes me cry every time. He was a beautiful dog & it breaks my heart to think he suffered in any way (being pulled from his family, locked in a cage, neglected, etc). So sad & makes me ashamed to be part Irish right now…..