Civil servants working for Tory energy minister Greg Barker have been shocked by using the office microwave to heat up his sausage dog's cushion.

According to the Daily Mirror, officials in the the Department of Energy and Climate Change have started refusing to use the microwave to heat up their lunches out of hygiene fears.

"When [Barker] first arrived we had to watch our step, as the dog wandered around the office," and insider told the paper.

"We put up with that. But when he started using our microwave to keep the dog nice and snug with a heated cushion, it proved he thinks more of the dog than us."

However a source close to the minister told the Daily Mail that Otto the dog was in fact very popular in the office.

"They are disappointed when he isn’t there. He is well-behaved and very sociable," they said.

It seems that Otto, does not like the be cold. As the minister tweeted a picture earlier this month of him snuggling up to his aga.

@GregBarkerMP
Greg Barker

It may be May and I'm busy gardening but Otto still can't get enough of the aga! http://t.co/GnoekC3s

May 13, 2012 12:45 pm via Camera on iOS Reply Retweet Favorite

In March Barker was reported to be left red faced after one of his officials had to quickly break out the pooper scooper when Otto had an accident during a meeting with the Colombian environment minister.

However Barker insisted that the visiting minister "loved" Otto and asked for a photo.

@GregBarkerMP
Greg Barker

My pup Otto most put out by MoS claim he became "over excited" meeting Colombian Env minister. They loved him + all insisted on a photo!

March 18, 2012 10:34 am via Twitter for BlackBerry® Reply Retweet Favorite

Barker was also recently said to have surprised businessmen from the power companies when he entered a meeting with them carrying the dog on the - no doubt toasty warm - cushion.

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