Biden’s canine, Commander, has been biting Secret Service brokers

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Biden’s canine, Commander, has been biting Secret Service brokers

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July 26, 2023

Biden’s canine, Commander, has been biting Secret Service brokers

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President Biden’s canine Commander seems to be out from the balcony in the course of the 2022 Thanksgiving turkey pardon ceremony. Secret Service information present the canine has bitten a variety of brokers, elevating considerations.

Carolyn Kaster/AP

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Carolyn Kaster/AP

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

The German shepherd bit a number of Secret Service brokers a complete of 10 instances in the course of 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 woman Jill Biden.

“The First Lady couldn’t regain control of Commander and he continued to circle me. I believe it’s only a matter of time before an agent/officer is attacked or bit,” an e-mail a couple of Secret Service official mentioned. The names of most brokers and officers had been redacted.

Days later, on Nov. 3, Commander bit an officer twice, as soon as on the arm after which when the officer stood up, on the leg. The officer mentioned they’d to make use of a metal cart as a protect 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 Garden, 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 mentioned Biden “seemed concerned” in regards to the particular agent, who continued to work the remainder of their shift.

Champ, reclining, and Major, standing, on the White House South Lawn on March 31, 2021. Champ died a number of months later at age 13, and Major went to a brand new residence after biting incidents.

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Mandel Ngan/AP

Champ, reclining, and Major, standing, on the White House South Lawn on March 31, 2021. Champ died a number of months later at age 13, and Major went to a brand new residence after biting incidents.

Mandel Ngan/AP

The Bidens had one other canine that bit brokers, too

The Bidens introduced two German shepherds with them once they moved into the White House in 2021: Champ, who died at age 13 that yr, and Major, a youthful canine adopted from a shelter.

But after a few biting incidents — and consultations with specialists — Major was despatched to a stay with household associates of the Bidens, for security causes. (Judicial Watch had obtained lots of of pages of information regarding Major’s conduct, as properly.)

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

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

But by the tip of the yr, Commander’s conduct had been dropped at the eye of Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle, the emails present.

The Secret Service mentioned in an announcement that it takes the security and safety of their staff “extremely seriously.”

“For the past several presidential administrations, the Secret Service has navigated how to best operate around family pets and these incidents are no exception,” spokesman Anthony Guglielmi mentioned in an announcement.

Past incidents involving first household pets had been additionally handled as office accidents, he mentioned. “While special agents and officers neither care for nor handle the first family’s pets, we continuously work with all applicable entities to minimize adverse impacts in an environment that includes pets,” he mentioned.

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

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

Carolyn Kaster/AP

The Bidens try to work on new protocols for Commander

The Bidens are “working through ways to make this situation better for everyone,” mentioned Elizabeth Alexander, communications director for first woman Jill Biden, in an announcement

“They have been partnering with the Secret Service and Executive Residence staff on additional leashing protocols and training, as well as establishing designated areas for Commander to run and exercise,” Alexander mentioned.

Alexander famous that the White House advanced can usually be a tense setting for household pets.

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

Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP

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Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP

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

Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP

Bob Brandau, a canine conduct professional based mostly in Florida, mentioned animals are very delicate to their environments.

“Just being in that facility in itself is a stressor, all by itself, because of the level of activity, the level of people moving in and out, the level of security protocols, and then all of those areas of the building that are restricted,” Brandau informed NPR in an interview.

Brandau, who trains canines and has served as an professional witness in courtroom instances about aggressive canines, mentioned canines like Commander can change into extra comfy attacking and biting over time.

“There was no apparent intervention that seemed to be working in any way to prevent that behavior from occurring again because the dog had these multiple incidents,” mentioned Brandau, who reviewed the Secret Service emails. At this level, Brandau mentioned he thinks it is unlikely there’s extra that may be performed to coach Commander.

“If the dog’s got a muzzle on him and he’s on a leash, he’s safer,” Brandau mentioned. “This dog could lash out at any time… it’s not a question of will this dog bite again, it’s who’s he going to bite next? And how seriously are those injuries going to become?”