Biden’s dogs ‘WILL be allowed back to White House’ after German Shepherd ‘bit guard & charged at staff’
PRESIDENT Joe Biden’s two dogs “will be allowed back" to the White House after one of the canines reportedly behaved aggressively toward staff causing a "minor injury."
Major, adopted by Biden in November 2018, when he was "surprised with an unfamiliar person" at the White House, Press Secretary Jen Psaki confirmed.
Psaki said this person suffered a "minor" injury in this incident that happened on Monday, and was treated by the White House medical unit.
But the injury was serious enough that Major and ’s other dog, Champ, were taken back to .
However, Psaki confirmed "the dogs will return to the White House soon" as a large brown dog bed was spotted leaning against a wall of the president's official residence.
“It had been previously planned already for the dogs to be cared for by family friends in Delaware during Dr Biden's travels to military bases this week, she has a three-day trip this week," Psaki said.
A reporter on Tuesday asked if Major would be euthanized after the incident – to which Psaki said the shelter dog would not.
"Well, certainly, Major Biden is a member of the family, so I can assure you that" he won't be euthanized, she said.
Psaki told a reporter who asked whether it was a Secret Service agent who was involved that she didn't "have any more details on the individual" who was bitten.
A official previously told : “Yes, they will be back” referring to the first couple’s dogs.
“With the First Lady traveling for three days, Champ and Major went to Delaware to stay with family friends.”
On Tuesday morning, Psaki had suggested to that the dogs were only temporarily relocated.
"Major and Champ are part of the Bidens' family. They're members of the family," She said.
"They often go to Delaware when the first lady's traveling and they're adjusting to their new home."
"I don't have any more on those reports, I just know that they're beloved members of the family."
Major, who is three years old, had shown agitated behavior on several occasions including “charging” at staff, jumping, and barking, sources told CNN.
Champ, about 13 years old, was slower due to his older age.
have previously stayed at the Delaware home with minders when First Lady Jill Biden was away.
The two dogs moved into the White House less than a week after Biden was inaugurated in January.
Last month, the first lady , “I’ve been getting obsessed with getting our dogs settled because we have an old dog and we have a very young dog.”
The first lady said the dogs had to take an elevator and “they’re not used to that,” and that they had to go on the South Lawn with many eyes on them.
“So that's what I've been obsessed with, getting everybody settled and calm,” Jill Biden said.
The first lady admitted that Major was on the couch although dogs are not allowed to get on furniture in the White House.
“They run all over,” she said.
The Bidens adopted Major from the Delaware Humane Association in 2018, a few months before Joe announced his bid for president.
Major is the first shelter dog to live in the White House.
Champ has been with the Bidens since 2008, soon after Biden was elected vice president.
On Tuesday, Psaki was asked about reports that the Bidens said they would get a "first cat" while living in the White House.
"We were promised a White House cat, what happened to that?" a reporter asked.
"Where is the cat? Today's a good day for the cat. I don't have any update on the cat. We know the cat will break the internet."
Biden left for a two-day trip to Washington and on Monday afternoon to visit military bases.
Most read in News
In late November, Biden and twisted his ankle.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
He was examined by an orthopedist and a follow-up CT scan confirmed hairline fractures of his lateral and intermediate cuneiform bones in the mid-section of his foot.
"It is anticipated that he will likely require a walking boot for several weeks," Dr Kevin O'Connor said at the time.