Judge denies man's petition to change name to Boomer the Dog

[PA Democrat]

Doggone it, you have to read some of the judge's decision.


An Allegheny County judge denied a Green Tree man's petition to change his name to Boomer the Dog, saying it would cause confusion and have unintended consequences, possibly "putting the public welfare at risk."

Gary Guy Mathews -- a 44-year-old fan of the "furry" lifestyle, which celebrates giving human characteristics to animals -- made the case to change his name in a hearing before Common Pleas Court Judge Ronald W. Folino on Tuesday. The judge issued a page-and-half denial late Wednesday afternoon.

He ruled the name change could result in "confusion in the marketplace," including in business records and public documents, as well as have more serious consequences.

"Consider the following example," should the court grant the request, Judge Folino wrote. "Sometime thereafter, Petitioner witnesses a serious automobile accident and telephones for an emergency medical response. The dispatcher on the phone queries as to the caller's identity, and the caller responds, 'This is Boomer the Dog.' It is not a stretch to imagine the telephone dispatcher concluding that the call is a prank and refusing to send an emergency medical response."



Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10224/1079431-455.stm#ixzz0wOumVMRE

[xchrom]

1. oy. nt

[MajorChode]

2. The judge is a moron

If someone can name their kids ridiculous names, then someone should be allowed to change their own name to something equally idiotic. It's not the government's place to determine what people can and can't call themselves. And the naming standard is based on what a 911 operator would consider a prank or not? What a pinhead.

[Initech]

3. First rule of Project Mayhem is you do not ask questions.

[Bonhomme Richard]

4. LOL, I had a Lab/Pitbull mix named Boomer. n/t

[slampoet]

5. Furries give animal characteristics to humans NOT human characteristics to animals

Get it right you frikkin hack.

[RaleighNCDUer]

6. Those who give human characteristics to animals are called

pet owners.

Edit for spelling - I have no idea what you'd call people who give Hunan characteristics to animals.

[slampoet]

7. Hunan characteristics to animals? You call that a Chef. Though i don't know the Mandarin Chinese

word for it.

Great post. funny.

[slampoet]

8. "concluding that the call is a prank" I had a Boss named Frank Keilbassa who had this problem.....

[PA Democrat]

9. Boomer the Dog's photo

He is holding the dog collar he normally wears.