Dog Bites Speaker: Pooch Nips Harwell's Finger, May Have Been A Democrat

NASHVILLE, TN — If House Speaker Beth Harwell winces when she calls the special session of the legislature to order, it may be because her gavel hand is smarting a bit.

While campaigning, the State House's top Republican knocked on a door when a “a ferocious dog protecting his home turf" came ambling around from the back. The Speaker told WKRN she usually has success simply telling dogs to sit when this sort of encounter occurs, as it invariably does. This canine constituent was having none of that.

The dog got her middle finger of her right hand, her hand and her hip.

“I had a little visit to the hospital last night, but all’s well and I am on some antibiotics,” the Speaker told the TV station.

To add insult (or at least inconvenience) to injury, the homeowners were not home.

Image via State of Tennessee.