According to a recent report, President Joe Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden’s 2-year-old German shepherd, Commander, has been involved in more biting incidents than previously reported.
The report comes from CNN, which cited sources familiar with the matter and shared that while the U.S. Secret Service has acknowledged 11 reported biting incidents involving its personnel, the number appears to be higher.
The most recently reported incident occurred on Sept. 25 and involved a Secret Service member, NPR reported.
However, sources shared with CNN that the real number includes executive residence staff and other White House workers, with bites ranging in severity, as one required hospital treatment, others only needed aid from the White House Medical Unit, and some didn’t even go reported.
The first family is reportedly working on solutions to stop Commander from biting, and while they do, the dog has been removed from the White House campus.
“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. They remain grateful for the patience and support of the U.S. Secret Service and all involved, as they continue to work through solutions,” Elizabeth Alexander, the communications director for the first lady, shared in a statement with CNN. “Commander is not presently on the White House campus while next steps are evaluated.”
While the official number of bites is believed to be higher than 11, Anthony Guglielmi, the U.S. Secret Service chief of communications, shared with the media outlet that an official count has not been taken.
In the report, four sources familiar with dog-biting incidents shared their knowledge of what happened. None were able to provide the exact number of bites.
Where Commander will be staying was not shared by the White House.