A fundraiser to support a legal intervention to "save Max the dog from euthanasia" has raised over £3,500 in three hours.
Campaigners who have been trying to have the puppy released from the Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council pound are planning a legal intervention to stop Max from being put down. It comes hours after the council had revealed that it had the dog assessed after rejecting possible assessors recommended by the USPCA.
A Dog Legislation Officer from Merseyside Police Service conducted the assessment on Wednesday, January 15, with the council saying that it determined Max was at least nine months old and a Pit Bull type breed - a banned breed.
Read more: Legal challenge to save Max the dog after assessment finds puppy is a Pit Bull
Read more: Dundonald stray Max's fate in hands of council as USPCA proposal rejected.
However questions have been raised about the assessment as it took place shortly after the council rejected the USPCA suggested assessors, with campaigners believe the Merseyside DLO would have been asked to come to Belfast before the meeting with the animal charity even took place.
They have said that the council has not acted in good faith and lacked transparency throughout the past month. Zara Duncan, who has been part of the campaign to save Max has launched a fundraiser in order to support a legal intervention against the council so that the puppy can be released.
She said: "Under Breed Specific Legislation, Max the bull dog cross pup is being held by Lisburn and Castlereagh Council, Northern Ireland as a typed, 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 tax payer 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 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."
If you would like to support the legal intervention fundraiser follow this link.
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