These stories are tragic and they are all too common. At least this one has a happy ending. From The Independent:

Presidential dog Major Biden has reportedly left the White House for good, following reports of aggressive behaviour with staff this year.

“After consulting with dog trainers, animal behaviourists, and veterinarians, the First Family has decided … it would be safest for Major to live in a quieter environment with family friends,” Michael LaRosa, spokesman for the first lady, confirmed to The New York Times reporter Katie Rogers on Monday.

Major was a rescue dog and that may have made all the difference.

Rescue dogs are often taken by animal welfare officials from an abusive environment and then put in a shelter, almost like jail, albeit with good people, food, shelter, and some playtime. Dogs have tens of thousands of years of human companionship and evolution to evolve a lot of human feelings.

When a shelter/rescue dog is adopted, it is often both elated and wary. But over the first year or two, as the shelter dog feels more and more safe, it gets to the point that they’re now terrified they’ll lose their paradise, their safe spot… they never want to go back. They don’t want to back to the abuse, they don’t want to go back to the shelter, and they never forget.

All situations and all dogs are different but there is a pattern identified with a minority of rescue animals where they bond so closely with their rescuers, love their family so much, and are so terrified of “going back,” that even a docile dog can get very aggressive toward anyone but their owner and family, their savior. Big changes bother them, simply moving to the White House likely bothered Major, never mind all the people. Remember, Major knows that some people hurt dogs. He doesn’t know that most don’t.

The troubled dogs are those that never lose the fear they become incrementally more aggressive, they nip, attack, bark, get aggressive with all but the people who adopted him or her, the only people the dog can really trust. It leads to bites, it can even lead to dogs being put down. They are just too dangerous. The mental wounds suffered early in life can be just too ingrained.

Thankfully, Major does have a place to go and no one is filing a police report on the president of the United States for a dog bite case. (In most cities/counties, dogs get one bite, and a citation/fine to the owner, a second bite often leads to a misdemeanor and an order that the dog be put down. At that point, it is likely safest. We love dogs, but we also love kids.

So we hope Major spends a long, leisurely life with friends, in a quiet and trusting place. And we hope that all people who abuse animals face the justice they deserve. Suffering is suffering and there is no excuse for allowing anything or one to suffer if you can prevent it.

And since conservatives will attacks the Bidens for literally anything, they quickly pounced on this:

https://twitter.com/dwighttshaver/status/1473257798163218436

President Biden gave away Major and got a new puppy. I volunteered at the county animal shelter for 5 years and this kinda shit disgusts me. If you get an animal you keep it and if you can't take care of it don't get another. At least Major probably won't get put down.

— matt soup-ing-grr (@MatthewTheAmazo) December 21, 2021

It seems odd to me that everyone is excited Biden got a new dog, and no one cares that he just gave away his old dog like it was nothing.

Our dogs are like family, only way your taking them from me is if you kill me first.

Hope Major lives a better life with his new family.

— ArizonaGrows (@ArizonaGrows) December 21, 2021

Am I the only one that is appalled that the Biden's used a Rescue Pup to "market" what good people they are, only to give the pup away and get a puppy?

Biden's gave away Major for a puppy named Commander.

GREAT message for the Country. Don't like older dog, get new puppy

— Observer (@comfort4556) December 21, 2021

He gave Major away. He gave up on his other German Shepherd. And GSDs are one person dogs. Major has no idea why he's not with his family anymore and he's suffering because of it. This is the worst thing Biden has done yet. https://t.co/ebrDuKCL9W

— Megan Fox (@MeganFoxWriter) December 21, 2021

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