BOSTON — Turns out that when it comes to biting White House visitors, President Bush’s dog Barney is a repeat offender.
Boston Celtics public relations director Heather Walker said Friday that Barney bit her wrist and drew blood as she tried to pat the Scottish terrier in September after a White House ceremony honoring the team’s 17th NBA championship.
“It was very strange. I didn’t expect him to bite me,” Walker told the Associated Press.
Last week, Barney bit Reuters reporter Jon Decker’s index finger when he reached down to pet the seemingly docile dog. Sally McDonough, a spokeswoman for first lady Laura Bush, said jokingly then of Barney: “I think it was his way of saying he was done with the paparazzi.”
McDonough said Friday she was unaware of the incident involving Walker and could not immediately comment.
Walker said the White House staff “was very nice” and asked if she needed help, but that all she needed were some bandages from the Celtics’ team physician. She said she did not get any injections because she is confident that Barney is well cared for.
“I was told that he doesn’t like people in the media and press, so look out,” Walker joked, laughing out loud.
Walker said she had wanted to keep the Sept. 19 incident under wraps, but her hometown newspaper, The Salem (Mass.) News, reported it Friday.
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