Avner Netanyahu, Son of Israeli Prime Minister, Makes Social Media Appeal for Dog-Walker for Family’s Alaskan Malamute During Parents’ State Visit to Singapore and Australia
by Ruthie Blum
The younger of the Israeli prime minister’s two sons, announced on social media that he was seeking a sitter for the family dog, the Hebrew news site Walla reported on Monday.
Avner Netanyahu, who took a short leave from the IDF to accompany his parents on what is being called a historic visit to Singapore and Australia, posted a picture of the Alaskan Malamute on Instagram ahead of the trip, along with a plea on behalf of Kaia for a dog walker for the upcoming week.
“Anyone interested should send a message,” Avner wrote on his page, where he goes by his mother Sara’s maiden name, Ben-Artzi. “She is incredibly sweet and no longer bites.”
He was referring to two cases in 2015 of Kaia’s having bitten members of the prime minister’s Likud party whom he hosted at his official Jerusalem residence: MK Sharren Haskel and the husband of Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely. This was a mere six months after the Netanyahus adopted the 12-year-old female canine, with a hip malady that makes walking laborious for her.
At the time, Kaia was placed temporarily in quarantine with the Israeli State Veterinary Services and Animal Health office.
Upon Kaia’s release, the prime minister wrote on Facebook about the treatment she had received, which, he said, left much to be desired. He added that he intended to take the matter up with officials in the ministries of health and agriculture, as well as with animal rights groups, to come up with proposals for improving the existing laws.