Max the dog spared destruction order finds new home in Antrim

Molly Piper with Max the dog

A Dundonald dog that faced a court-ordered destruction ruling has been spared and is now settling into a new home in Antrim.

‘Max’ was ruled to be a Pit Bull-type banned breed by a Lisburn judge earlier this month, with only weeks to be rehomed or destroyed.

Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council (LCCC) and animal welfare campaigners had been in dispute over the stray’s assessment for almost a year. Max was held in council kennels from December 2024 until the court decision earlier this month.

Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) from her family’s Mid Antrim Animal Sanctuary, new owner Molly Piper said Max was thriving in his new surroundings.

Steve Piper with daughter Molly, and Max the dog

She said:

“I’m so happy to have Max home. He’s every ounce the happy, affectionate, and infectious pup I hoped he would be.

“He’s been taking it easy, lots of naps, and at the weekend he got to meet his extended family — other rescue dogs from Mid Antrim Animal Sanctuary.

“What has struck me most is how settled Max is. Despite spending almost a year in kennels, he’s never forgotten what it’s like to lie by the fire or go potty outside. He just remembers, and that makes it all the more heartbreaking to think of what he had to endure.”

Animal campaigner Zara Duncan brought a legal challenge after council dog wardens assessed Max as a Pit Bull-type — a classification that could have resulted in his destruction under the UK’s Dangerous Dogs Act.

In her ruling on 2 October, District Judge Rosie Watters concluded that Max “will not be a danger to the public”, but imposed strict conditions. These include that Max must be insured, microchipped, muzzled in public, always exercised on a lead, kept in a secure environment, and neutered.

Campaigner Zara Duncan with Max the dog

Images and video provided to the LDRS show Max on private land with permission. His new owners have, however, called for a review of the legislation governing breed assessments.

Molly added:

“If Max’s campaign hadn’t brought attention to his plight, he could have been another statistic lost to breed-specific legislation in council pounds.

“Seeing him so happy with people, with dogs, and finally at peace in a home is bittersweet. He’s the perfect reminder of why this legislation is rotten and not fit for purpose.”