A Northern Ireland council has agreed to allow an independent assessment of a seven-month-old dog facing potential euthanasia, following an urgent meeting on Monday night.
Max, currently held in council kennels, was previously classified as a pit bull type breed by Lisburn and Castlereagh Council.
The decision comes after significant public pressure and engagement with the USPCA, with the council confirming a new assessment will be conducted by USPCA-recommended experts “as soon as possible.”
“Max remains safe and well and no further action is currently planned,” a council spokesman said.
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Max has been in the council’s care since December 10, when he was found abandoned in Dundonald.
Campaigners maintain Max is a French bulldog/staffy cross, contradicting the council’s assessment of him as a pit bull type breed.
The council conducted a reassessment on January 15, with what they described as “an independent and highly experienced” assessor.
“The outcome confirmed the results of the initial assessment and determined the dog as a Pit Bull Type,” the council stated.
Experts had previously advised that a proper breed assessment could not be carried out until the dog was at least nine months old.
Public support for Max has grown significantly, with an online petition gathering 13,350 signatures calling for his independent assessment and release into foster care.
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Nearly 300 people attended a protest outside the council offices in Lisburn on Saturday to show their support for the dog.
Campaigner Zara Duncan, who had initially agreed to foster Max over Christmas, has been vocal about the case.
“As Max’s story grows it will be, for many people, the first time that the pain and cruelty of specific breed legislation will be coming to light in Northern Ireland,” Duncan said.
She added that Max is “a mixed breed, with proven parentage from two perfectly legal breeds”.
The USPCA has welcomed the council’s decision to allow a new independent assessment of Max.
“We welcome the news that a further assessment by an independent third-party assessors as previously promised,” a USPCA spokesman said.
Last week, USPCA CEO Nora Smith had expressed frustration with the council’s actions.
“The lack of consultation and failure to follow through on their public commitment to elected representatives to work with the USPCA is deeply disappointing,” Smith said.
The organisation had indicated it was prepared to explore legal action to secure Max’s future before the council’s latest decision.
The council has committed to working closely with the USPCA on Max’s case moving forward.
“We are continuing to engage closely with the USPCA and it has been agreed that a further assessment will be conducted by one of their recommended experts as soon as possible,” a council spokesman said.
The USPCA expressed optimism about the collaboration, stating: “We look forward to working with the Council to protect Max who has captured the hearts of so many.”
The case has highlighted broader concerns about breed-specific legislation in Northern Ireland, with campaigners noting that many dogs face euthanasia based on physical appearance alone.
