A fundraiser to support a legal challenge against the Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council's decision to euthanize a dog named Max has raised over £3,500 in just three hours. Campaigners are alleging that the council acted in bad faith and lacked transparency in their assessment of Max, a bulldog cross pup, as a Pit Bull type breed.
A fundraiser launched to support legal action aimed at saving a dog named Max from euthanasia has already raised over £3,500 in just three hours. Campaigners fighting to secure Max's release from the Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council pound are planning to take legal action to prevent his execution. This comes shortly after the council disclosed that it had the dog assessed following the rejection of assessors recommended by the Ulster Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (USPCA).
A Dog Legislation Officer (DLO) from Merseyside Police Service conducted the assessment on Wednesday, January 15th, with the council stating that it determined Max to be at least nine months old and of the Pit Bull type breed – a breed prohibited under legislation. However, concerns have been raised regarding the assessment's impartiality, as it took place soon after the council rejected the USPCA's proposed assessors. Campaigners believe the Merseyside DLO would have been engaged before the meeting with the animal charity even took place. They allege that the council has not acted in good faith and has lacked transparency throughout the past month. Zara Duncan, an active member of the campaign to save Max, initiated the fundraiser to facilitate legal intervention against the council, aiming to secure Max's release. She stated: 'Under Breed Specific Legislation, Max the bulldog cross pup is being held by Lisburn and Castlereagh Council, Northern Ireland, as a type, Pitbull dog. Max has been in council holding since the first week of December 2024. Despite a unanimous intervention from councillors to request an independent assessment for Max, working collaboratively with USPCA on the selection of the assessor, this has been rejected by the council. On 15th January, only hours after rejecting the USPCAs proposed assessor list, the council facilitated an assessment of Max by a Merseyside Police DLO, at the cost of taxpayer money. We believe this was a deliberate and hand-picked selection by the council which ruled out Max’s chances of a fair assessment from a non-affiliated body. This fundraising is aimed to support what will be a potential legal intervention to challenge Lisburn and Castlereagh Councils assessment of Max and ultimately contribute to his freedom. For full transparency on these funds, the page has been set up to allow funds to be transferred to those acting once available. Please get behind this boy, he needs our help to face a system and legislation intent on his destruction.'
Animal Welfare Dog Euthanasia Legal Challenge Lisburn And Castlereagh City Council Pit Bull
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