Biden's dog, Commander, bit Secret Service agents 10 times in four months : NPR

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President Biden’s canine Commander appears out from the balcony through the 2022 Thanksgiving turkey pardon ceremony. Secret Service information present the canine has bitten plenty of brokers, elevating issues.

Carolyn Kaster/AP

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Carolyn Kaster/AP

President Biden’s canine Commander has discovered himself within the doghouse after a sequence of incidents the place he bit Secret Service officers on responsibility on the White Home.

The German Shepherd bit a number of Secret Service brokers a complete of 10 occasions through the four-month interval between October 2022 and January 2023, information present. One incident resulted in an agent getting despatched to the hospital for therapy.

Tipped to the incidents, the conservative watchdog group Judicial Watch filed a lawsuit to get entry to 194 pages of emails and texts the place Secret Service brokers and officers described aggressive encounters with Commander.

For instance, on Oct. 26, Commander charged at an agent whereas on a stroll with First girl Jill Biden.

“The First Woman could not regain management of Commander and he continued to circle me. I consider it is solely a matter of time earlier than an agent/officer is attacked or bit,” an e-mail a few Secret Service official stated. The names of most brokers and officers had been redacted.

Days later, on Nov. 3, Commander bit an officer twice, as soon as on their arm after which when the officer stood up, on their leg. The officer stated that they had to make use of a metal cart as a defend from one other assault, and so they had been in ache after the incident.

The subsequent month, the president himself was strolling Commander within the Kennedy Backyard, the place he let the canine off leash. Commander ran to an agent and bit them twice, as soon as on the left forearm and as soon as on the thumb. The emails stated Biden “appeared involved” concerning the particular agent, who continued to work the remainder of their shift.

Champ, reclining, and Main, standing, on the White Home South Garden on March 31, 2021. Champ died just a few months later at age 13, and Main went to a brand new dwelling after biting incidents.

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Champ, reclining, and Main, standing, on the White Home South Garden on March 31, 2021. Champ died just a few months later at age 13, and Main went to a brand new dwelling after biting incidents.

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The Bidens had one other canine that bit brokers, too

The Bidens introduced two German Shepherds with them after they moved into the White Home in 2021: Champ, who died at age 13 that 12 months, and Main, a youthful canine adopted from a shelter.

However after a few biting incidents — and consultations with consultants — Main was despatched to a reside with household associates of the Bidens, for security causes. (Judicial Watch had obtained a whole bunch of pages of information regarding Main’s habits, as nicely.)

The Bidens say hello to new puppy Commander, and Major is off to a new home

Commander got here to the White Home as a pet in December 2021, a birthday present from Biden’s brother James.

However by the top of the 12 months, Commander’s habits had been dropped at the eye of Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle, the emails present.

The Secret Service stated in an announcement that it takes the security and safety of their workers “extraordinarily significantly.”

“For the previous a number of presidential administrations, the Secret Service has navigated methods to finest function round household pets and these incidents aren’t any exception,” spokesman Anthony Guglielmi stated in an announcement.

Previous incidents involving first household pets had been additionally handled as office accidents, he stated. “Whereas particular brokers and officers neither look after nor deal with the primary household’s pets, we repeatedly work with all relevant entities to reduce opposed impacts in an atmosphere that features pets,” he stated.

Commander takes a stroll outdoors the West Wing on April 29, 2023.

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Commander takes a stroll outdoors the West Wing on April 29, 2023.

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The Bidens try to work on new protocols for Commander

The Bidens are “working by way of methods to make this example higher for everybody,” stated Elizabeth Alexander, communications director for First girl Jill Biden, in an announcement

“They’ve been partnering with the Secret Service and Government Residence employees on extra leashing protocols and coaching, in addition to establishing designated areas for Commander to run and train,” Alexander stated.

Alexander famous that the White Home complicated can usually be a demanding atmosphere for household pets.

Commander watches from the doorway of the White Home because the Bidens board the Marine One helicopter on June 25, 2022.

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Commander watches from the doorway of the White Home because the Bidens board the Marine One helicopter on June 25, 2022.

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Bob Brandau, a canine habits knowledgeable based mostly in Florida, stated animals are very delicate to their environments.

“Simply being in that facility in itself is a stressor, all by itself, due to the extent of exercise, the extent of individuals transferring out and in, the extent of safety protocols, after which all of these areas of the constructing which are restricted,” Brandau advised NPR in an interview.

Brandau, who trains canine and has served as an knowledgeable witness in courtroom circumstances about aggressive canine, stated canine like Commander can change into extra snug attacking and biting over time.

“There was no obvious intervention that gave the impression to be working in any approach to forestall that habits from occurring once more as a result of the canine had these a number of incidents,” stated Brandau, who reviewed the Secret Service emails. At this level, Brandau stated he thinks it is unlikely there’s extra that may be achieved to coach Commander.

“If the canine’s obtained a muzzle on him and he is on a leash, he is safer,” Brandau stated. “This canine may lash out at any time… it isn’t a query of will this canine chunk once more, it is who’s he going to chunk subsequent? And the way significantly are these accidents going to change into?”