Biden adopts two new pups after old dogs removed from White House over alleged aggressive behavior

WASHINGTON, DC: Former President Joe Biden and his wife Jill Biden have adopted two new puppies, marking a fresh chapter after controversies involving their previous dogs at the White House. The adoption comes after earlier pets were removed due to aggressive behavior toward staff.

Rescue DOG, a pet sanctuary, shared the news in a social media post on Wednesday, March 25, that the puppies are two black Labrador mixes. The new additions are expected to bring a calmer and more peaceful presence to the Biden household.

Biden family adopts two new puppies

The organization shared the news through a social media post, which included a photo of the couple posing with the puppies alongside their cat, Willow. The shelter noted that the two puppies, originally from Johnson County, were adopted together by the Biden family.

During the photo session, one of the pups was described as, "you can see the pup on the right is staying true to Johnson County TN character and will not sit still for the photo shoot .. ready to run and play."

Rescue DOG further expressed, "Are we excited about this adoption? Yes, but we are just as excited when our local folks adopt, like Quint Reece across the street. To us .. a great home is a great home! We are thrilled for these two pups who were once abandoned on the mountain."

The post concluded by saying, "We always tell each one, "make us proud" .. these two sure did. God speed sweet babies!" 

Melissa Gentry, who runs the sanctuary, described her surprise upon learning about the adoption.

“The group that we transport with called us and said, ‘Are you sitting down,’ and I said, ‘No, but what have I done,’ They said, ‘You won’t believe who just adopted two of your puppies,'” Gentry recalled. 

She continued, “And my first thing I did was started laughing because I thought she was joking … it just blew my mind.”

Biden family's previous dogs were removed from the White House

The adoption follows a series of incidents involving the Bidens’ previous German shepherds, which led to their removal from the White House. One of the dogs, Commander, was given away in February 2023 after being involved in dozens of biting incidents targeting Secret Service agents and other personnel.

Some of these incidents were serious, with at least two cases, one at the White House and another at Biden’s Delaware beach home, resulting in victims requiring hospital treatment. Commander was not the first dog to cause concern.

His predecessor, Major, had also been rehomed in 2021 after displaying similar aggressive behavior and attacking staff.

A previously unreported incident on September 2023, involved Commander biting a Secret Service member twice and tearing holes in the agent’s suit while Biden was walking the dog in the Kennedy Garden along the South Lawn of the White House.

Biden reportedly accused a Secret Service agent of lying about an attack by Major during his first year in office, despite being present for at least three separate incidents involving Commander, according to files released to Judicial Watch under Freedom of Information Act litigation.