Article Summary –
President Joe Biden’s dog, Commander, bit US Secret Service agents at least 24 times according to Secret Service documents. As a result, the Secret Service changed its tactics, advising agents to keep their distance from the dog. The documents were uncovered following Freedom of Information requests and cover incidents from October 2022 to July 2023.
President Biden’s Dog Bites Secret Service Agents Numerous Times
President Joe Biden’s German Shepherd, Commander, had numerous run-ins with Secret Service agents, with at least 24 biting incidents reported, according to newly released documents. The severity of these incidents led to significant changes in Secret Service tactics, with agents being advised to maintain a safe distance from the dog.
These incidents were revealed through Freedom of Information requests, although the documents are heavily redacted to protect the identities of the agents and the secrecy of their security tactics. The biting incidents, which occurred between October 2022 and July 2023, included bites on various parts of the agents’ bodies, such as the wrist, forearm, elbow, waist, chest, thigh, and shoulder.
The documents do not cover all biting incidents related to Commander as they only include interactions with the Secret Service and not other White House staff or personnel at Camp David in Maryland.
Commander’s Removal and History of Incidents
Commander left the White House in October of the previous year, just one week after a Secret Service agent required medical treatment for a severe bite. A prior incident in June led to a “deep bite” on an agent’s forearm necessitating stitches, halting East Wing tours for 20 minutes due to blood on the floor. In July, an agent suffered a substantial open wound requiring six stitches.
In response to the biting incidents, the agents had to adjust their operational tactics, with one senior agent advising creativity to ensure personal safety while Commander was present. Despite attempts to address the problem, including additional dog training and consulting animal behaviorists, the White House environment proved too much for Commander.
The First Lady, Jill Biden’s office, stated that Commander was eventually sent to live with relatives. Similarly, another dog owned by the Biden family, Major, who injured a Secret Service agent in 2021, was also sent away to live in Delaware.
Read More US News
This article may have been created with the assistance of AI.
Our stories may be republished online or in print under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. We ask that you edit only for style or to shorten, provide proper attribution and link to our web site. Please see our republishing guidelines for use of photos and graphics.
