Belfast, Ireland – Alexandra “Sandie” Lightfoot, former dog warden for the Belfast City Council, is currently one of the least popular people in the world. As one of the two people whose negative opinions held sway over the Council and courts in the case of Lennox, the dog put down recently under Ireland’s Dangerous Dogs Act, many consider Lightfoot to be a persona non grata. Millions of people who have followed this case feel that Lightfoot provided opinions about Lennox that were unqualified at best, and perjurious at worst.
Lightfoot’s most controversial statements were made under oath, when she claimed that Lennox was “one of the most aggressive” dogs she had ever come into contact with and that she was frightened to be around him; people, other than judges hearing the case, found these statements hard to believe after a video of Lightfoot with Lennox was provided to the public. The video was taken when the family’s expert, David Ryans, evaluated Lennox with Lightfoot in the room. Lightfoot is clearly shown interacting with the dog she claims is aggressive and frightening. She holds his leash while Ryans tries to prod the dog into aggressive behavior and occasionally pats Lennox on the head. For the entirety of the video, she is obviously completely relaxed, remaining seated in the dog’s presence while the tests are conducted. Still photos of this session later surface depicting Lennox licking Lightfoot’s face and Lightfoot scratching his head. Nowhere in the videos or photos does she appear to be frightened or intimidated by Lennox. The contradictions between her actions on video and her statements to the court make her testimony unreliable and her qualifications to evaluate dogs questionable.
But it seems that the City of Belfast, at least, considers her work not only capable, but laudatory. According to the minutes of the proceedings of a Meeting of the Environment and Borough Services Committee of the Antrim Borough Council held on April, 19 2012, Lightfoot was recommended, along with four others, for placement as an “Animal Welfare Officer” in Antrim, a city near Belfast. According to research done by Elizabeth Batt of the Digital Journal, Lightfoot’s new position could easily be considered a promotion, given that qualifications for the new job are more stringent, the pay is higher, and opportunities for advancement are more available than at her previous job for the Belfast City Council.
It also could be construed that Belfast considered Lightfoot a liability, and took an opportunity to be rid of her. As is the case for so much of the story of Lennox and the Belfast City Council, the Council’s motives may never be known.
Thought she was going to be investigated! This makes me sick! Where is the justice?
This woman lied and helped cover-up abuse and neglect toward an innocent dog – Lennox, and now she is being rewarded?? What kind of absurdity is this? She should be in jail! Wow.
There is no justice through the proper channels! Time for a sniper. This woman is a liar with NO ethics. She deserve any and everything that karma can dole out to her.
why? thats not fair lennox whould be alive right now she needs to be put down.
Ok what is wrong with the people of Belfast??? I can’t believe that a lying bitch could get promoted that is absolutely ridiculous…rest assured I would never travel there to give money to their economy because the are obviously nuts or stupid I haven’t figured out which one it is yet!!!!!
Are you sure this is in Ireland and not America?
Belfast council, you so ever suck.
Get her away from the dogs!
im sorry but i must protest to it being said that its IRELANDS LAWit is not irelands law belfast is under BRITISH LAW
That is true ,Loretta, the Irish Republic is completely seperate from Befast .They do however have fur farming in the republic which I totally condemn. I have signed petitions to stop this busines , perhaps you would be interested in signing as well .My daughter lives in Ireland and she and I traveled to Belfast for a holiday but I will not be doing that again any time soon .
All i can say is WTF?????????
She IS a liability…to the animals in her “care”!! So they get rid of her and someone else gets her…the cycle of lies and coverups continues…in another place. Whole tragic story makes me sick.
This just makes me sick too. I can’t believe a raise in in order for someone who murdered a dog that had so many other options for life. Belfast you need to have an overhaul and check yourselves. You were wrong about Lennox and you are damn well wrong about giving this bi$ch a raise!!
The older I get in years, the more I realize you can’t fix stupid.
When you consider that woman’s proven involvement in an on-line hate campaign against Lennox’s family, you would have to wonder what is the criteria for promotion in bcc, because it would seem professional behaviour is certainly not one of them. She should not be allowed any where near any animal again. I guess silence is an expensive commodity for bcc these days!!
These two people have no idea of what do do or how to determine if an animal is aggressive or not. “Sandie” is repeatedly petting what she called the “most aggressive dog she had ever seen”…why isn’t he attacking her???? Two idiots judging an innocent animal. The dog has more sense than either of them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! R.I.P. LENNOX. SORRY THESE TWO IDIOTS BETRAYED YOU AND HAD YOU MURDERED. BOTH SHOULD NEVER HAVE A JOB WITH ANIMALS AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!