New documents reveal that President Joe Biden’s dog Commander was involved in biting incidents with US Secret Service agents at least 24 times.
The extent of chaos caused by the German Shepherd for the presidential bodyguards is detailed in Secret Service records.
Shocking study on Biden’s Dog Commander One senior agent observed that the bites prompted the Secret Service to change tactics, advising agents to “give lots of room”. The documents, obtained through Freedom of Information requests and subsequently posted online, are heavily redacted to safeguard the identity of Secret Service agents and the confidentiality of their security strategies, as reported by BBC.
They outline a series of biting incidents that occurred between October 2022 and July 2023, with Secret Service members sustaining bites on various body parts such as the wrist, forearm, elbow, waist, chest, thigh, and shoulder. However, it’s important to note that these documents may not capture all biting incidents involving the Commander, as they only pertain to the Secret Service and do not include other personnel working in the White House or at Camp David in Maryland.
They outline a series of biting incidents that occurred between October 2022 and July 2023, with Secret Service members sustaining bites on various body parts such as the wrist, forearm, elbow, waist, chest, thigh, and shoulder.
However, it’s important to note that these documents may not capture all biting incidents involving the Commander, as they only pertain to the Secret Service and do not include other personnel working in the White House or at Camp David in Maryland.
Commander left the White House in October of the previous year, following an incident where a Secret Service agent required medical attention due to a severe bite. In a previous incident in June, an agent suffered a “deep bite” on the forearm and needed stitches. Additionally, blood on the floor of a White House area led to a temporary suspension of tours in the East Wing for 20 minutes, reported BBC.
Another agent was bitten on the hand in July, requiring six stitches. This incident resulted in a “severe deep open wound” and significant blood loss. In response, colleagues presented the injured agent with a “small care package” containing painkillers, antibiotic ointment, pepper spray, a muzzle, and dog biscuits for safety purposes.
A senior agent advised in an email that adjustments to operational tactics were necessary when the Commander was present, emphasizing the importance of maintaining distance from the dog. Efforts were made to address the Commander’s behaviour, including additional training, leashing, veterinary consultations, and behavioural consultations, as per UK Media reports.
However, these measures proved unsuccessful, leading to the decision to send the Commander to live with relatives in the autumn. Another dog owned by the Biden family, Major, had previously injured a Secret Service agent in 2021 and was subsequently relocated to Delaware.
