On two separate ocassions this fall “snarly“ Barney drew blood when a Whitehouse Reporter Jon Decker, and Heather Walker — Public Relations Director for the Boston Celtics tried to pat him.
Snarly Barney frolicks in the snow
November 6, 2006
Barney Bush bites Whitehouse Reporter Jon Decker
When reporter Jon Decker reached down to pet President George Bush’s Scottish terrier, Barney snapped at him and bit his right index finger.
The White House doctor Dr. Richard Tub, bandaged the reporter’s wound and put him on antibiotics.
Reporter April Ryan happened to capture the moment on video and the video ended up on YouTube.
This wasn’t the first time Barney lost his cool. Heather Walker the Boston Celtics Public Relations Director was bitten when the Boston Celtics were invited to participate in a ceremony at the Whitehouse in September honoring the team’s 17th NBA championship in June.
“I walked into the White House and in the first area you walk into, there are Miss Beazley (Mrs. Bush’s Scottish terrier) and Barney,” Walker said. “They were sitting on this Oriental rug, and I just reached down to pat Barney and he attacked me.”
The dog bit her on the wrist and drew blood.
“Oh, my God, you’ve got to be kidding,” Walker recalls saying. “I couldn’t believe the president’s dog bit me.”
Walker didn’t say a word about the Barney incident until a reporter asked her about it earlier this week.
“I just wanted to keep it under the radar,” she said. “I’m a huge dog lover.”
Celtics trainer Ed Lacerte came to her aid. “He just took a look at it and gave me some bandages,” she said.
No, she didn’t get a shot.
“I figure the dog is pretty well-kept,” Walker said
In Barney’s defence no-one should try to pat a dog without asking permission first. Visitors to the Whitehouse should read May I Pet Your Dog by children’s author Stephanie Calmenson (audio interview- Roxie’s Reads Section)
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