The man who went to court Tuesday is 44-year-old Gary Guy Matthews, of Green Tree.
Matthews is a fan of a short-lived NBC television series called "Here's Boomer" that featured a dog who rescued people. But he's also an enthusiast of Anthrocon, an annual convention of people dedicated to anthropomorphism - or the practice of attributing human characteristics to animals.
Matthews says his friends already call him Boomer, as did his late parents - though that took some persuading.
Allegheny County Judge Robert Folino says he needs to research Matthews' request. The judge says he could nix the request if it results in "unintended consequences" like being "seen as bizarre."
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Information from: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, http://www.post-gazette.com
