Football Legend Joe Namath's Dog Declared Dangerous after Multiple Bite Attacks
It seems to be the month for celebrity pooches displaying bad behavior. This month, singer Jennifer Lopez and her husband were sued over a dog attack on a stewardess. Also this month, former NY Jets quarterback Joe Namath had his dog declared dangerous. The dog, a Labrador Retriever named Leo has apparently bitten three people in a period of two years.
Leo must now be muzzled and leashed when he goes out for a walk, and he is no longer allowed to roam the yard outside his owner’s home. When unleashed, he must be placed in a secure enclosure, and must be locked up when Namath has company. Namath must also place a dangerous dog sign on his property. Leo will also have to wear a special dog tag designating him as a dangerous dog.
Every year, an animal control officer will visit the home to ensure compliance. If Leo bites another person, he could be declared vicious, and put down. According to Namath’s attorney, he may appeal the sentence.
Namath’s dogs have been linked to several reports of attacks since 2007.
- In May 2007, a UPS driver was attacked by a bunch of dogs on the property. Leo was apparently one of the dogs that bit the driver.
- In February 2009, a contractor working on the house was attacked and bitten on the wrist.
- In May 2008, a home nurse was bitten by one of the dogs.
- In August, a landscaper became the most recent victim of a dog bite on the property.
However, Namath has never admitted that his dogs ever attacked anyone. As a New Jersey dog bite lawyer, that doesn’t surprise me one bit. I often see dog owners continue to remain in a state of denial for days and weeks after an attack has occurred.
It’s also encouraging to see how Palm Beach County authorities have handled the situation. Earlier this year, the county made it possible for a dog to be declared dangerous if it attacked just one pet, instead of the earlier two. Animal control officials are also developing a website that will allow residents to see how close they live to a dangerous dog.
