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It has been revealed that Joe Biden’s dog has attacked and bitten US Secret Service agents numerous times, leading the president’s team to modify their strategies for ensuring their own safety.
The team, composed of skilled individuals trained in hand-to-hand combat and carefully chosen from the US military’s top ranks, is willing to sacrifice their lives to protect their duty.
However, when dealing with the hostile German Shepherd, Commander, they had to exchange their bulletproof vests for dog biscuits.
Newly released records reveal that there were a total of 24 biting incidents at both the White House and the president’s Delaware home within a span of ten months. One of these incidents resulted in an agent needing six stitches.
Upon returning to work, the agent received items for potential safety reasons such as pepper spray, a muzzle, and dog treats to be used in emergencies.
A new case arose involving a bite that was so serious that it caused blood to spill onto the floor in a section of the White House that is accessible to visitors on tours. As a result, the area had to be temporarily closed off.
“In a June 2023 email, a senior agent in charge of the Presidential Protection Division stated that the recent dog attacks have prompted us to modify our operational strategies when the Commander is around. It is advised to maintain a safe distance (if possible, staying at least one terrain feature away).”
The individual, whose alias was redacted in the record, cautioned agents to think outside the box in order to protect our own well-being.
In 2022, at the White House in Washington, President Joe Biden’s dog, Commander, was seen on the balcony during a ceremony pardoning the national Thanksgiving turkeys.
The content was heavily edited to safeguard the identities of agents from the Service Secret and their security strategies. It was made public in compliance with a request made under the Freedom of Information Act.
During the time frame of October 2022 to July 2023, there were multiple instances of biting reported by agents. These bites occurred on various body parts such as the wrist, forearm, elbow, waist, chest, thigh, and shoulder.
There were 11 reported attacks in the White House in July, but they are not included in these incidents. Additionally, this document may not document every instance of biting.
The collection of emails not only documented multiple events in great detail, but also revealed discussions between agents and officers on how to prevent harm more effectively.
An individual narrowly avoided harm thanks to their ammunition pouch – the papers also included a picture of a torn shirt.
A special agent expressed surprise over the incident that took place on October 2, 2022, when he was attacked while holding the door open for the president. The attacker, a commander, grabbed the agent’s left arm and stood on their hind legs.
The agent wrote that he is the same height as me when standing. This made me worry about him leaving the house or being off-leash for the safety of both himself and others.
An agent sustained a serious injury during an encounter. On June 14, 2023, a dog charged at the agent and inflicted a “deep bite” on their left arm, necessitating stitches.
According to a document, tours of the East Wing in the White House were temporarily suspended for about 20 minutes because there was blood on the floors in the Booksellers section.
One month later, another agent was attacked at the president’s residence in Delaware and sustained a “serious, deep, open wound.” According to a message, the agent began to experience significant blood loss.
Elizabeth Alexander, the communications director for Jill Biden, stated that the well-being of White House employees and their daily protectors is of utmost concern to the president and first lady.
Even with extra training for the dog, using a leash, seeking help from veterinarians and animal behavior experts, Commander was unable to adjust to the White House environment. He has been living with other relatives since autumn.
In December 2021, Mr. Biden’s brother James Biden gave him a German Shepherd as a present. Last year, Commander was removed from the White House due to several instances of biting.
Commander is the second dog owned by President Biden to show signs of aggression while at the White House. The first dog, Major, who is also a German Shepherd, was also relocated to Delaware due to his aggressive behavior.
Source: independent.co.uk
