President Joe Biden’s younger dog Commander bit another U.S. Secret Service officer earlier this week. Commander, a 2-year-old purebred German shepherd, but a Secret Service officer around 8 p.m. Monday. The injured officer was treated by medical personnel and is doing okay following the incident, USSS Chief of Communications Anthony Guglielmi said in a statement to CNN.
This recent incident would be the 11th known instance of the dog biting a Secret Service officer at the White House and in Delaware. This follows the July reports that Secret Service members raised concerns about Commander-in email correspondence that surfaced in emails obtained by the conservative group Judicial Watch through Freedom of Information requests.
In the email correspondence, the staffers alleged that the Commander was involved in at least 10 incidents, reported CNN. “I believe it’s only a matter of time before an agent/officer is attacked or bit,” one staff member claimed.
One email showed that a Secret Service officer went to a hospital to be treated for injuries after the German shepherd reportedly bit the officer’s arm and thighs in November 2022.
In an October 2022 incident, the Commander charged a Secret Service staffer and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden reportedly “couldn’t regain control.”
“For the past several presidential administrations, the Secret Service has navigated how to best operate around family pets and these incidents are no exception,” Guglielmi said in a July statement to CNN. “We take the safety and well-being of our employees extremely seriously.”
“As such, we are aware of past incidents involving first-family pets, and these instances were treated similarly to comparable workplace injuries, to include with relevant notifications and reporting procedures followed,” the statement continued.
Guglielmi explained that the Secret Service does “work with all applicable entities to minimize adverse impacts in an environment that includes pets,” but they do not care for or handle the pets.
The Biden family welcomed the Commander to the White House in December 2021. His White House arrival followed the death of Biden’s previous German shepherd, Champ, who died in June 2021.
Biden, 80, tweeted, “Welcome to the White House, Commander,” along with a photo of the puppy running with a tennis ball in his mouth.
Commander is the third dog to move into the White House during Biden’s presidency. The 2-year-old puppy was previously joined by Major.
The Bidens adopted Major from the Delaware Humane Association in 2018, but after residing in the White House for a short period he was removed from the residence due to several “biting incidents.” In early 2021, Major was then rehomed and now resides with family friends of the Bidens.
“After consulting with dog trainers, animal behaviorists, and veterinarians, the First Family has decided to follow the experts’ collective recommendation that it would be safest for Major to live in a quieter environment with family friends,” Michael LaRosa, a spokesman for Dr. Jill Biden at the time, told PEOPLE. “This is not in reaction to any new or specific incident, but rather a decision reached after several months of deliberation as a family and discussions with experts.”
In other news – Actor and rapper Nashawn Breedlove dies aged 46
Nashawn Breedlove, who was famous for his role and rapping skills in 8 Mile with Eminem has sadly passed away aged 46.
Family members told TMZ that the actor passed away in his sleep on Monday at his home in New Jersey. His loved ones are yet to learn of the cause of death. Fans will remember Nashawn flexing his rapping skills in a rap battle against the Mockingbird rapper in the 2002 movie, which also starred the late Brittany Murphy and Marvel’s Anthony Mackie. Read More
