From man’s best friend to man’s worst enemy, the validity of the White House dogs are being questioned. Recent skirmishes between U.S. President Joe Biden’s dogs and fellow Secret Service members have led people to wonder if presidential pets are a charming tradition or an unpredictable nuisance.
All three of Biden’s dogs–Champ, Major and Commander–have been involved in biting incidents as of September. This has left people fretting about who’s next to be attacked, and others wondering whether or not it’s time this tradition ends.
Having presidential animal companions is a tradition that has been around since the dawn of American leaders, carried strongly throughout the country’s history and roster of presidents. From Theodore Roosevelt’s pet zebra to Andrew Johnson’s mice, dozens of pets have resided in the White House.
In the 2020 election, Joe Biden employed a campaign strategy called “Dog Lovers for Joe,” which ran on the promise that presidential dogs will return to bring unity to the country.
“Red state or blue state, we all can agree on the power of dogs,” the campaign website said. “It’s time we had a dog-lover back in the White House.”
President Biden’s declaration succeeds the previous head of state, Donald Trump, who was the first president in a century to not have a pet. Biden welcomed German Sheperds, 12-year-old Champ and 1-year-old Major, in return for the tradition. However, according to the Department of Homeland Security, both of them were involved in various biting incidents, attacking multiple Secret Service members. Major came from a litter of six puppies, all rescued from a reportedly “toxic” home.
He was adopted from the Delaware Humane Association, a no-kill shelter, making him the first rescued dog to make residence in the White House as a presidential pet.
Sophomore Julissa Adams of Holmdel believes that this show of immaturity through the biting incidents reflects a nation that both fails to control their people and pets.
“It just doesn’t look good,” Adams said. “If you can’t control your pets from hurting people, how can you be expected to manage a whole country?”
Others disagree, including sophomore Andrea Castaneda of Freehold Borough, who thinks issues like these are resolved over time.
“I feel like because they’re puppies, it’s natural,” Castaneda said. “Once they get older, the biting incidents will stop. It’s just a matter of waiting it out and training them properly.”
While biting is never pleasant for both parties, Major is a shelter dog who has undergone traumatic experiences. Biting is a tactic of self defense employed by pets, and with one as antsy as the president’s puppy, people should show consideration rather than contempt.Regarding animals with troubled pasts, it’s important to be patient, no matter how presidential the furry friend is. The White House should enforce training the dogs rather than deinstating them or punishing them so these sitations are to never occur. With proper training, consideration and time, these situations are sure to never happen again.
