So happy Hank is coming home... but pet’s owners criticise council actions in seizure that sparked protests from 300,000 people around the world
Owners welcome expert’s verdict that seized pet is not dangerous, but hit out at council
A FAMILY pet seized from its home by Belfast City Council will be reunited with its owners on Tuesday.
A expert concluded that Hank the dog did not pose a risk to the public.
Hank was taken two weeks ago on suspicion of being a pit bull — a banned breed in Northern Ireland.
It sparked a huge online campaign, with almost 300,000 signing a petition calling for his release.
However, the council said yesterday Hank could be returned.
An assessment concluded that although he was “a pit bull terrier-type”, he could be placed on the council’s exemption register.
He is expected to return home on Tuesday, but his owners have still not yet been allowed to visit him.
Last night anger was growing over Belfast City Council’s handling of the case.
There were also calls for a review of Northern Ireland’s dog laws.
Hank’s owners Leonard Collins and Joanne Meadows said they are looking forward to welcoming the dog (below) home.
“We’re both really happy that it looks like Hank will be released on Tuesday,” Leonard told the Belfast Telegraph.
“The council said he is boisterous and in need of some training, but he is certainly no danger to the public, and that is something I have said from the start.”
Hank was seized two weeks ago after being repor ted because he “looked like a pit bull”.
He was taken under the Dogs (NI) Order 1983 by a team of police officers and dog wardens.
His owners claim he is actually a Staffordshire-Labrador cross, and has never shown aggressive behaviour. The council and PSNI have been criticised for their heavy-handed approach.
Eight police officers and four council officials were involved in the operation to remove the pet from Mr Collins’ home on July 14. He was out at the time, and had returned to a notice on his door saying that the property had been searched and Hank seized.
The pet has spent the last fortnight separated from his family. On Wednesday Hank’s owners claimed that Belfast City Council was “refusing” to speak to them after they phoned for an update. Mr Collins said: “I do have serious concerns with how this case has been handled. I feel the council has hid behind the legislation to explain its behaviour, but I’m happy that common sense has prevailed.”
He added: “My concern would have been that the council would have come back and said that he was a pit bull and a danger, and it would have been a lengthy process with further assessments. “(Dog expert) Peter Tallack in this case has made an initial assessment that he does not believe Hank is a danger.
“So I am very happy that the council has come to this conclusion and hasn’t dragged this out any further, but it could have been avoided. I hope this case shows that change is needed.”
He added he and Joanne will have to accept that Hank is a pit bull-terrier type in order to secure his release.
Although they dispute this, they will comply in order to get their dog back.
But they are considering a le- gal challenge in order to overturn the council’s findings.
The case sparked a massive campaign with celebrities such as Dermot O’Leary and Carl Frampton calling for Hank’s release.
Celebrity dog trainer Victoria Stilwell also joined the fight. She posted last night: “Hank will most likely be going home next week. Today is a good day. Thanks to all who helped to #SaveHank.”
The case has echoes of the Lennox saga, where a dog was seized in 2010 and put down two years later after a failed legal bat-
tle. Last night there were calls for a change in the law to avoid similar issues in the future.
Belfast City Council said: “Hank first came to the attention of the council due to concerned members of the public raising a welfare issue.
“He has displayed some behavioural issues but, having worked with him since he was taken into our possession, and, in light of the expert opinion received, we believe these can be addressed through additional training.
“Subject to this court approval, and with the agreement of his owners, Hank will be the 12th dog to be placed on the exemption register and returned to their owner by the council since 2011, out of 13 dogs assessed to be pit bull types during this period. All 12 have had conditions attached to their return which are aimed at addressing issues of public safety.”
It added: “The council has a statutory responsibility to protect the health and safety of the public by carrying out its duties under the current breed specific legislation, which is set by the Northern Ireland Assembly and not Belfast City Council.”