NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) – There have been tough days on the campaign trail for every politician, but few have experienced the kind of reception Tennessee House Speaker Beth Harwell received Tuesday from an unappreciative canine who took several bites out of the powerful lawmaker.

While door knocking in her south Nashville district, the speaker met “a ferocious dog protecting his home turf. I was at the front door and he came around from the back and he did not like that I was there.”

The canine went after the middle finger of her right hand first, before getting her hand and a small part of 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 News 2.

Rep. Harwell said she has usually gotten dogs to “sit” but “this one went after my finger when I told him to do that.”

The homeowners were not there at the time, but the Speaker joked, “I sure hope I get that vote.”