WASHINGTON (AP) — President Biden’s canine Commander bit Secret Service officers at the least 10 occasions between October 2022 and January, together with one incident that required a visit to the hospital for an injured legislation enforcement officer, based on information from the Department of Homeland Security.

The conservative watchdog group Judicial Watch on Tuesday launched almost 200 pages of Secret Service information that it obtained by means of a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit. The group mentioned it filed swimsuit after the company, a division of DHS, “failed to respond adequately” to its request final December for information about biting incidents involving the purebred German shepherd canine. The group mentioned it filed the request after receiving a tip about Commander’s conduct.

The White House and the Secret Service appeared to minimize the scenario on Tuesday.

Elizabeth Alexander, communications director for first girl Jill Biden, mentioned in an electronic mail that the White House advanced is a “unique and often stressful environment” for household pets and that the Biden household was “working through ways to make this situation better for everyone.”

Anthony Guglielmi, chief spokesperson for the Secret Service, mentioned in a separate electronic mail that his company has for the previous a number of presidents “navigated how best to operate around family pets and these incidents are no exception. We take the safety and wellbeing of our employees extremely seriously.”

The Secret Service gives safety safety for the president and his household, and scores of its officers are posted across the govt mansion and its sprawling grounds.

Biden obtained Commander in December 2021 as a present from his brother James. The president’s earlier canine, one other German shepherd named Major, had been despatched to stay with mates in Delaware after some biting incidents of his personal involving Secret Service officers and White House workers.

The household additionally has a cat, Willow.

On Nov. 3, 2022, a Secret Service official emailed colleagues that Commander had bitten a uniformed officer twice — on the higher proper arm and thigh. Staff from the White House medical unit handled the officer and determined to have the person taken to a hospital.

A captain of the Uniform Division emailed later that day that he had been suggested that Commander was updated on his vaccinations.

A be aware the next day added particulars concerning the assault, together with that the officer who was bitten used a metal cart to guard himself from one other assault. The officer later was positioned on a number of days of restricted obligation primarily based on medical doctors’ recommendation.

Alexander mentioned the Bidens have been working with the Secret Service and the White House residence workers “on additional leashing protocols and training” for Commander, in addition to establishing designated areas the place he can run round for train.

“The president and first lady are incredibly grateful to the Secret Service and Executive Residence staff for all they do to keep them, their family and the country safe,” Alexander added.

Guglielmi mentioned Secret Service staff are inspired to report job-related accidents to their instant supervisors for acceptable documentation.

“As such, we are aware of past incidents involving first-family pets and these instances were treated similarly to comparable workplace injuries, to include with relevant notifications and reporting procedures followed,” he mentioned.

“While special agents and officers neither care for nor handle the first family’s pets, we continuously work with all applicable entities to minimize adverse impacts in an environment that includes pets,” Guglielmi added.

Commander is commonly seen being dealt with by the White House’s chief groundskeeper.

The New York Post was first to report on Commander’s biting incidents.

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