Given what you know (in your heart) about the gentle demeanor of Barbra Streisand’s beloved canine Samantha, the following information will shock you: Samantha viciously bit a flight attendant on Tuesday, sending her to the hospital for stitches. I know. [Charlotte voice] Samantha!

Us Weekly reports that Babs was traveling from New York to Washington, D.C. on Ron Perelman’s private jet with Samantha, a 12-year-old Coton de Tuléar. (More about this rare breed later.) The mag’s description of the incident comes from a “source” not directly identified as Ms. Barbra Streisand, but curiously defensive nonetheless:

A source tells Us Weekly the legendary singer’s beloved dog was behaving herself on the private jet owned by Ron Perelman, until a flight attendant attempted to pat the dog without offering it her hand first. (Such a gesture is a common way to get acquainted with unfamiliar animals.) When Samantha felt threatened, she bit the stewardess so severely that the woman required stitches.

A rep for Babs tells Page Six, “This never happened before and Barbra apologized profusely to the flight attendant.”

As of yet, no lawsuits have been filed in relation to the incident, and animal control was not called.

How do we know Samantha’s bloodthirsty behavior was just an aberration? Let us look to the Wikipedia page about Cotons de Tuléar, which, again, does not identify Barbra Streisand as its author, but who’s to say. Who’s to say who wrote the following “facts” about the Coton de Tuléar, which is “named for the city of Tuléar in Madagascar and for its cotton-like coat”?

  • “The Coton de Tuléar has a medium-to-long, fluffy, cotton-like coat that is considered hair rather than fur.” [emphasis added though obviously strongly implied in original]
  • “This breed does not have the common ‘doggie smell’ and, when properly bathed and groomed, has little to no odor.”
  • “Cotons love swimming; owners who have pools are recommended to let their Cotons play in the pool with supervision.”
  • “The fact that this is a breed being revived from extinction means that the Coton de Tulear is rather expensive to purchase and prices may reach $1,800.00-$3,500 per dog.”
  • “A common trait of the Coton de Tulear behavior is to come alive in the evening.”

Cotons de Tuléar are covered in long, luxurious hair, like that of a human who is a princess. Cotons de Tuléar do not have “the common ‘doggie smell’”—in fact, when you smell pure, clean air, what you are smelling is the scent of a Coton de Tuléar. Cotons de Tuléar love playing in their owners’ swimming pools. Cotons de Tuléar were revived from extinction to make the world a better, more Coton de Tuléar-filled place. Cotons de Tuléar come alive after a glass of wine in the evening.

Interesting.

According to Babs, Samantha has even developed the power of speech.

Barbra’s caption:

“I took this picture of Sammie playing with her “hot dog” as she calls it!”

Samantha is “perfectly friendly and well-behaved,” as she calls it.

Photo via Instagram. Contact the author at allie@gawker.com.