President has woman's dog put down after it threatened him
WASHINGTON, DC - During the President's tour of Washington D.C.'s historic homes yesterday, the President had a six-year-old Yorkie named Pandy taken from its owner Martha McBride, 78, and put down at a local veterinary office after the dog, who was female, growled and snapped at him during his tour of a home that was once owned by Ulysses S. Grant.
McBride, who is white, was a civil rights activist during the 50s and 60s, having participated in major protests and marches of the Civil Rights Era and braved fire hoses alongside African-American protesters at Birmingham, Alabama, in 1963. Her history, however, did not change the fact that her dog had attacked the first African-American president of the United States.
The tour started uneventfully as McBride showed the President and his entourage around her home, while discussing historical facts and the history of the building. Then her dog Pandy, visibly frightened by all of the commotion brought on by the large group of people, nervously paced around McBride's feet. McBride then knelt over to pick up her dog and held Pandy in her arms.
The President noticed the small dog and extended his hand to pet her, saying, "That's a cute dog, whats its name?" But before McBride could answer, Pandy snapped at the President's hand and continued to growl, as the dog and the President exchanged scornful looks. At first McBride was relieved that her dog did not make contact, but the events would soon take a devastating turn.
McBride apologized and explained that she rarely has visitors. "She's never done that before, I'm sure she was just scared," she said in sudden silence, interrupted only by her voice and the dog's growls. A few awkward moments went by before the President stormed out of the house, abruptly ending the tour. Confused McBride followed the President outside, asking if everything was alright. Then a Secret Service agent ripped the dog from the screaming woman's arms and walked to his vehicle without saying a word.
McBride begged and pleaded with them to give the dog back, asking what they were going to do with Pandy. Her pleas remained unanswered as the presidential limo drove off, followed by a string of smaller vehicles, including the one holding the detained dog.
She later told reporters that Pandy was the last gift that her deceased husband ever gave her.
Close relatives and friends of McBride visited the distraught elderly civil rights activist throughout the hours following the event, and as the sun set there still was no word about Pandy's fate. Worried family members called various White House numbers to inquire about the dog's whereabouts, but were put on hold indefinitely every time.
It wasn't until the next morning that McBride finally knew what happened to her beloved Yorkie, when she discovered a small container in her mailbox. It contained Pandy's ashes with her little collar taped to the side of the package, and a handwritten note saying, "Curb your dog next time. - B. Obama." EMS had to respond to the scene and take McBride to the hospital after she fainted in her lawn.
The veterinary clinic that carried out the act gave a brief statement over the phone. "Our policy specifically states that we do not put down healthy dogs unless the animal has physically harmed someone in a gruesome way. But this dog came with the President's executive order and very specific instructions. The President later personally called our office to make sure we carried out his orders and promised to make our lives a living hell if we didn't."
Branden McBride, Martha's eldest son, confirmed that his mother was expected to return home later in the afternoon.
source
WASHINGTON, DC - During the President's tour of Washington D.C.'s historic homes yesterday, the President had a six-year-old Yorkie named Pandy taken from its owner Martha McBride, 78, and put down at a local veterinary office after the dog, who was female, growled and snapped at him during his tour of a home that was once owned by Ulysses S. Grant.
McBride, who is white, was a civil rights activist during the 50s and 60s, having participated in major protests and marches of the Civil Rights Era and braved fire hoses alongside African-American protesters at Birmingham, Alabama, in 1963. Her history, however, did not change the fact that her dog had attacked the first African-American president of the United States.
The tour started uneventfully as McBride showed the President and his entourage around her home, while discussing historical facts and the history of the building. Then her dog Pandy, visibly frightened by all of the commotion brought on by the large group of people, nervously paced around McBride's feet. McBride then knelt over to pick up her dog and held Pandy in her arms.
The President noticed the small dog and extended his hand to pet her, saying, "That's a cute dog, whats its name?" But before McBride could answer, Pandy snapped at the President's hand and continued to growl, as the dog and the President exchanged scornful looks. At first McBride was relieved that her dog did not make contact, but the events would soon take a devastating turn.
McBride apologized and explained that she rarely has visitors. "She's never done that before, I'm sure she was just scared," she said in sudden silence, interrupted only by her voice and the dog's growls. A few awkward moments went by before the President stormed out of the house, abruptly ending the tour. Confused McBride followed the President outside, asking if everything was alright. Then a Secret Service agent ripped the dog from the screaming woman's arms and walked to his vehicle without saying a word.
McBride begged and pleaded with them to give the dog back, asking what they were going to do with Pandy. Her pleas remained unanswered as the presidential limo drove off, followed by a string of smaller vehicles, including the one holding the detained dog.
She later told reporters that Pandy was the last gift that her deceased husband ever gave her.
Close relatives and friends of McBride visited the distraught elderly civil rights activist throughout the hours following the event, and as the sun set there still was no word about Pandy's fate. Worried family members called various White House numbers to inquire about the dog's whereabouts, but were put on hold indefinitely every time.
It wasn't until the next morning that McBride finally knew what happened to her beloved Yorkie, when she discovered a small container in her mailbox. It contained Pandy's ashes with her little collar taped to the side of the package, and a handwritten note saying, "Curb your dog next time. - B. Obama." EMS had to respond to the scene and take McBride to the hospital after she fainted in her lawn.
The veterinary clinic that carried out the act gave a brief statement over the phone. "Our policy specifically states that we do not put down healthy dogs unless the animal has physically harmed someone in a gruesome way. But this dog came with the President's executive order and very specific instructions. The President later personally called our office to make sure we carried out his orders and promised to make our lives a living hell if we didn't."
Branden McBride, Martha's eldest son, confirmed that his mother was expected to return home later in the afternoon.
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