Charles Fort called it “The Wipe.” It is that hastily written story after some type of phenomenon is reported to quickly move affairs back into equilibration, so the status quo will be maintained.

With reference to the multiple sightings of a “large cat” on Belfast soil, after the search for the large felid failed, the official “Wipe” has now been put into place.

The Irish Times and other media sources for September 1, 2008, are reporting that the “Belfast ‘escaped lion’ was [a] large stray dog.”

“Police in Belfast have called off their search for an escaped ‘lion’ after it turned out to be a large stray dog,” stated The Irish Times.

“A police spokeswoman said officers now believed the animal in the park was in fact a large stray dog. ‘Police can confirm that there’s no stray lion wandering about in north Belfast,’ she said.”

“Belief” is an article of faith, and I see these statements about this being a dog no more trustworthy than the early reports that what was seen was a “lion.”

No “large dog” was produced. No owner was noted. The “large dog” appears to be as elusive as the “large lion.”