[DghtRdc]

I cant help but wonder if this was a Pit Bull if it would receive the same consideration?? Grr..



WEST PALM BEACH, FL-- A former NFL great, who shined as a quarterback, is playing defense. He spent Thursday afternoon at a hearing trying to protect his beloved pet which Palm Beach County calls dangerous.


With nearly the fervor and intensity he had in his days on the football field...Joe Namath vehemently defended his beloved yellow lab, Leo.
He blamed an episode in which the dog bit a home health care nurse, who mistakenly drove onto his Tequesta property, on the woman's refusal to listen.
"She continued to walk and I yelled stop," Namath said. "I said stay there, don't come any further. Then she turned around, took a step back and said 'he bit me.' "

In the past three years, Palm Beach County Animal Care and Control says Namath's yellow lab, Leo, has bitten three people on three separate occasions: A UPS employee, a yard worker, and a home health care nurse who had the wrong address.


Namath says his dog is not aggressive- but very protective of Namath because, he says, of the constant public trespassing on his property.
"I get fired up, and my dogs infer that," Namath said. "What I feel, unfortunately, they feel."


Even with all his passion and his celebrity status county attorney Shannon Fox didn't back down. She looked the former football star in the eye and told him the law requires him to better restrain his animals.


"When she (the home health care worker) came onto the property, she was aggressively approached," said Fox. "Mr. Namath is encouraging the aggressive behavior."


Namath denied that and said he, "Does not enjoy seeing people have fear from dogs."


He also said the incidents could have been avoided if people would read the no trespassing signs.


Namath admits he has no gate surrounding his property, but he does have a canine invisible fence.



He says his dogs love people and children. Still, in the end, the court disagreed.

"Although it's obvious you love your dogs, we need to declare Leo a dangerous dog," the judge ruled.

Although Leo has been declared a dangerous dog, it does not mean he will be taken away from Namath.


The court says it's going to work with the football legend to better secure his animals.



http://www.wptv.com/content/news/cen...r42TW_Bsw.cspx

[pharweqto]

Declaring dogs dangerous based on their ACTIONS...what a novel idea!

Joe needs to put a bullet in that dog...

[Bobdilan]

Great Quarterback...Not So Good Dog Owner. It shouldn't have happenned the first time...BUT THREE Times. He needs to quit "passing" off the responsibility and "step up" in the pocket and "complete" the play. Fence the property...the "best offense" is a "good defense"...and that doesn't mean an Olivia Newton John song that says it is "electrifying".

Sorry for all the puns and corny referrences...NOT

[DghtRdc]

I agree DD! The man needs to get sacked for his irresponsible behavior.

[ZenDers]

If the people were coming aggressively toward him, then I could understand, but someone just stepping on to the property, a dog, especially a lab, shouldn't be attacking.

Time for a dirt nap, for sure.

[UncoonsKala]

haha What if pit bulls got to have 3 strikes like leo...what a world!

[allvideO]

If the people were coming aggressively toward him, then I could understand, but someone just stepping on to the property, a dog, especially a lab, shouldn't be attacking.

Time for a dirt nap, for sure.

Agree. His sense of logic is plain wrong.

[Aeaefee]

I'd give a dollar to see a truly protective lab - the dog's probably just poorly trained and scared. There are no "protective" well bred labs, they're retrievers - not a guardian breed... what a loser.

[NiliSpuppypax]

haha What if pit bulls got to have 3 strikes like leo...what a world!

Unfortunately, the pit bull most probably would not have three strikes .
But fortunately, there was no pit bull to blame in this instance.

[11Woxsepmoomo]

Declaring dogs dangerous based on their ACTIONS...what a novel idea!

Joe needs to put a bullet in that dog...

I agree on both plays.

[JEWELMARGY]

he either needs to properly contain his dog or give that dog a one way trip to the vet.
if that were a "pit bull" it would be long dead... and with reason to, no breed of dog should be HA, and even worse, he should NOT blame other people nor make excuses for his dog biting!

gotta love breed discrimination... what a nice world we live in, isn't it?

[erepsysoulptnw]

Great.... another irresponsible owner, regardless of the breed.

[leacturavar]

Joe, I know you played in Shea Stadium the former home of the loser Mets but your dog needs to be in the Jets' current home, buried beneith the field with Jimmy Hoffa.

[FUNALA]

Great Quarterback...Not So Good Dog Owner. It shouldn't have happenned the first time...BUT THREE Times. He needs to quit "passing" off the responsibility and "step up" in the pocket and "complete" the play. Fence the property...the "best offense" is a "good defense"...and that doesn't mean an Olivia Newton John song that says it is "electrifying".

Sorry for all the puns and corny referrences...NOT

I just spit out my coffee

---------- Post added at 09:03 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:03 AM ----------

haha What if pit bulls got to have 3 strikes like leo...what a world!

Pit bulls don't even have to do anything to get PTS

[GtmFeqJJ]

Three strikes... :P

[johnuioyer]

at first i was thinking, well hell, stay out of his yard it says no tresspassing! but than again, he should make it so no one can get in so dang easily! lock up that dang yard!

[diplmixxxx]

at first i was thinking, well hell, stay out of his yard it says no tresspassing! but than again, he should make it so no one can get in so dang easily! lock up that dang yard!

Thats what I was thinking as well.

[johnuioyer]

Yea im pretty sure my dog would bite someone in my yard too, It says on my fence 'tresspassers will be bitten.' but its also locked and there never out there unsupervised so i never have a problem.

---------- Post added at 11:23 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:21 PM ----------

He should have a sign saying 'dog in yard' or 'gaurd dog on duty' something of that sort. but now, his dog is deemed dangerous, I think he will have to have it muzzled or contained in a run now, so thats what he gets!

[rvadipoldkov]

I think there are some issues with the dog, especailly given the breed and he definetely needs evaluated/trained.

BUT that said, he has NO TRESPASSING signs. Depending on the state, that could make it or break it. Plain and Simple.

I do feel that the dog does not have good judgement and IF he can not be contained properly then he needs a dirt nap. Anybody could walk on my property and NOT get bitten, act shady though, and my dogs will treat you as shady, no bites but definetely watching for the next move you make. Act aggressive and a threat to me or my grandmother, expect to have the wrath of them, period. After all, that's what they are trained to do, discern a threat and act on it apporpiately. I have no doubts that the UPS, yardworker and home health nurse would get nothing but love at my house though. lol lol

Another Poor dog failed by Another IRRESPONSIBLE owner!

Courtney

[Seesspoxy]

Yea im pretty sure my dog would bite someone in my yard too, It says on my fence 'tresspassers will be bitten.' but its also locked and there never out there unsupervised so i never have a problem.

---------- Post added at 11:23 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:21 PM ----------

He should have a sign saying 'dog in yard' or 'gaurd dog on duty' something of that sort. but now, his dog is deemed dangerous, I think he will have to have it muzzled or contained in a run now, so thats what he gets!

"ATTACK DOG ON PREMISES"

Might be better...apparently his dog will waste no time biting your ass..