Boris Johnson’s latest animal encounter comes in the form of a giant flightless bird who appeared to take a disliking to the former PM as it attempted to nip him
Boris Johnson has never been a man to shy away from chaos – and that includes his interactions with the animal kingdom. From an over-excitable dog to an unexpected nip from an ostrich, the former Prime Minister’s history with pets has provided more than a few cringeworthy – and hilarious – moments.
The latest animal encounter to haunt Boris came in the form of a hungry ostrich. In a viral clip doing the rounds online, the ex-PM is seen recoiling in surprise as the massive bird pecks at him through a window.
Caught off guard, Boris jumps back with a startled expression – proving once again that he’s never more than a few feet away from an awkward animal interaction. The former PM’s wife Carrie Johnson posted the clip on Instagram, showing Boris swearing and yelling in pain after the flightless bird walked up to their car during a trip to a wildlife park in Texas.
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But this isn’t his first pet-related gaffe. Back during his time at No 10, Boris made headlines for his dog Dilyn’s less-than-statesmanlike behaviour.
Rescue dog Dilyn arrived at Downing Street in 2019, shortly after Mr Johnson and wife Carrie got the keys to No 10. Since then, the so-called First Doggy has repeatedly hit the headlines for bad behaviour. He was accused of jumping on antique furniture and peeing in staff’s handbags.
The PM’s former chief adviser Dominic Cummings is said to hold a grudge against Dilyn amid claims the dog tried to hump his leg at Chequers.
Described as “randy” and “out of control,” the rescue Jack Russell cross had a reputation for humping anything that moved – including, in one particularly eyebrow-raising incident, MP Sajid Javid’s own dog during a visit to Downing Street.
Cavapoo Bailey struggled to walk through the doors of Downing Street without Dilyn seeking her out. The two dogs saw a lot of each other since Boris moved into No. 10 and Sajid took up residence in No. 11.
In the end, Boris and Carrie had Dilyn neutered in an attempt to tame his amorous tendencies. The decision was reportedly made after repeated complaints and chaotic moments that saw the dog’s libido become a minor diplomatic issue.
The awkwardness didn’t stop with Dilyn, though. In his departing speech outside No 10, Johnson managed to thank his pets – the aforementioned dog and cat – but notably failed to mention his wife, Carrie.
The omission raised eyebrows across the political spectrum and sparked speculation online, with some suggesting it may have been more than a simple oversight.
And who could forget the infamous moment when Boris was caught on camera discussing Brexit… and dog poo? In the bizarre viral video, Boris is seen chatting animatedly with a fellow Brexiteer about the finer points of canine waste disposal, providing meme material that quickly did the rounds on social media.
The man tells Johnson that he is tired of seeing dog poo everywhere and suggests the introduction of a five-pound dog licence. Boris though doesn’t seem too sure about the idea and fears it might be costly to those that don’t have money to spare. The man disagrees.
Whether it’s being bitten by birds, embarrassed by his own pets, or forgetting the name of his better half during a national address, Boris has certainly found himself in some strange scrapes involving the animal world.
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