Shalala Collars Frisky First Dog

As secretary of health and human services, Dr. Donna Shalala is one of the most powerful women in Washington. She oversees an agency with 57,000 employees and an annual budget of $359 billion, making policy on everything from welfare to Medicare to human cloning research.

Now, Shalala can add a new job to her list: White House dogcatcher.

Buddy, the presidential pooch, escaped the White House on Friday after the swearing-in of Dr. David Satcher as surgeon general. After indelicately relieving himself on the lawn while a white-gloved Marine stood sentry outside the press office door, the dog bounded toward the street, past a hapless Secret Service guard.

The quick-footed Cabinet secretary - who, as Satcher’s boss, attended the ceremony - then sprang into action, grabbing the frisky puppy by the collar. As she dragged the reluctant Buddy back toward the White House, Shalala looked up and remarked: “It’s a big responsibility.”