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Joe Biden called 'creepy' for grabbing staffer's thigh while petting dog in video

Joe Biden was at the California Governors' Office of Emergency Services where he petted a service dog and touched the handler's thigh while speaking

President Joe Biden caused a stir on social media after a video of himself petting a service dog and bonding with his owner made the rounds on Tuesday, September 14.

The 46th POTUS was at the California Governors' Office of Emergency Services as part of his first tour of the West Coast, where he surveyed damage left by the wildfire season and also campaigned for California Governor Gavin Newson, who is facing a recall election. MEAWW previously reported how the president was accused of leaving behind US military service dogs in Afghanistan. We also reported how his pet dog Champ bit White House staffers multiple times.

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Biden was seen in the clip posted by The Recount's account on Twitter, talking to a staff member at the Office of Emergency Services about his own pets Major and Champ while petting the service dog. "I had a black lab[rador] for fifteen years," Biden said as his hand rested on the owner's thigh. "Best company in the world. And then my German Shephard died at age 15. They're the best aren't they?" he added before the 13-second clip ended. 

Biden was branded "creepy" on social media for grabbing the staffer's thigh, with many concerned about his interaction with a service dog that might have been on duty. "That is an Assistance dog on duty. I sure hope he asked the handler if he could pet the dog. Generally handlers do not want their dogs distracted from their work. Big No!!!" one Twitter user wrote.

"Creepy biden rests his hand on emergency worker's thigh and PATS it as he talks about the man's service dog and reminisces about his own dead German Shepherd (NOW it's about HIS dog)," another wrote. "How are the service dogs doing he abandoned in Afghanistan?" a comment read. "This POS left all of the Military Service dogs to suffer and die in Afghanistan - they are still roaming the airport. This man is as evil as they come," a user chimed in. "Always rubbing on somebody," another quipped.

However, there were many who took acknowledged the president's love for dogs. "I knew there was something about that guy I liked!" one wrote. "I give pets to all 4 of the dogs on either side of my back yard. Even play fetch with them Two German Shepard and two mixed. But I own cats. Real pet owners are just good people also. You can tell a lot about a person by the way they treat and interact with animals (pets)" a comment read. "Seriously, he’s just a good guy. We are in dire need of more good guys," another added.

That said, critics of the president have branded him 'creepy' on several occasions in the past. In May, he claimed George Floyd's daughter wanted to sit on his lap during the family's visit to the White House. The same month, he was trolled for telling an elementary schoolgirl she looked 19 while "sitting with her legs crossed." In February, he asked a nurse "are you a freshman at the university?" during a video call. He has also been accused of inappropriate contact by multiple women, notably former Nevada lawmaker Lucy Flores.