President Joe Biden has faced a rough row since his inauguration nearly three years ago. Rants of entrenched election deniers echo through the same chambers of congress through which Biden shepherded key, bipartisan legislation. Though job numbers rise and inflation rates fall, his poll numbers sag as Americans struggle to pay their bills.
Biden just returned from a one-day hop to the Middle East in an attempt to tamp down flared tempers and help open a humanitarian corridor in the war-torn region. He returns to a home absent one member of his family.
Commander, Joe and Jill Biden’s two-year-old German Shepherd, was evicted from the White House two weeks ago following a string of biting incidents. At least a dozen bites have been reported against secret service agents.
“The first family is working through ways to make the situation better for everyone,” White House press Secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre said at a recent news conference.
Elizabeth Alexander, The First Lady’s communication director, said in a statement, “The President and First Lady care deeply about the safety of those who work at the White House and those who protect them every day. Commander is not presently on the White House campus while next steps are evaluated.”
Sources conflict as to the exact number and nature of the biting incidents. “I don’t know how thoroughly these are tracked,” a secret service official told Today. “I had no visibility on the White House staff having issues.”
Most dogs that are biting in these situations are actually biting out of fear,” dog behaviorist, Laura Sharky, said. Though they look ferocious and terrifying, they’re usually afraid.”
White House grounds manager, Dale Haney, denied conservative media outlet reports that Commander had bitten him. White House officials reported that Haney told them, “Commander was being playful, and there was no bite, no pressure of teeth on his skin, no mark — just some dog slobber.” Haney has cared for presidential pets dating back to the Nixon administration.
Commander, a gift from the president’s brother, filled the void left by the Biden’s other German Shepherd, Major. Major was re-homed with friends in Delaware almost two years ago following a series of biting incidents, also involving secret service agents. Sources say that Commander hasn’t been re-homed at this point. It is unclear what behavioral interventions, if any, have been taken.
Commander deserves an environment free from the triggers that dog him. Should he be re-homed, his new human parents should muster every resource to manage his fear-biting. A permanent respite from White House commotion and stress may prove sufficient intervention. Major and Commander also illustrate that a pure-bred dog is not necessarily free from “issues” that can break hearts as well as skin.