South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (R) is drawing ire after revealing she killed a puppy after she deemed it untrainable.
The Guardian obtained a copy of Noem’s memoir — “No Going Back: The Truth on What’s Wrong with Politics and How We Move America Forward” — which will be published in May.
“Cricket was a wirehair pointer, about 14 months old,” Noem wrote. She said the female dog had an “aggressive personality.”
She wanted to train Cricket to hunt pheasants, but that failed. When Cricket killed a friend’s chickens she knew something had to be done. Cricket needed to be put down.
“It was not a pleasant job,” Noem wrote, “but it had to be done. And after it was over, I realized another unpleasant job needed to be done.”
That’s when she wrote about killing a goat she referred to as “nasty and mean.”
Noem’s revelations put her on the defensive Sunday with a post on X, formerly Twitter.
“I can understand why some people are upset about a 20-year-old story of Cricket, one of the working dogs at our ranch,” Noem wrote. “Whether running the ranch or in politics, I have never passed on my responsibilities to anyone else to handle. Even if it’s hard and painful. I followed the law and was being a responsible parent, dog owner, and neighbor.”
Noem is one of many Republicans vying to be former President Donald Trump’s choice for vice president.
Other contenders are North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum (R), Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C), and Rep. Elise Stefanik, (R-N.Y.), per CNBC.
The moment did not pass without photos posted of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris with dogs.
BREAKING: Unlike Trump potential VP candidate Kristi Noem, who executed her dog, President Biden loves his dog. pic.twitter.com/BRfSaPYpDc
— Biden’s Wins (@BidensWins) April 27, 2024
In a world with dogs, be a Kamala Harris, not a Kristi Noem….#Gaza #flooding pic.twitter.com/JlFhs7RqSb
— Umer Khayam (@KhayamTV) April 26, 2024
Laura Loomer, a right-wing media personality, denounced Noem and said she lost her chance to be vice president.
“She can’t be VP now,” Loomer said on X. “You can’t shoot your dog and then be VP.”
Many agreed with Loomer:
Since Kristi Noem is pro-book banning, we should requite the favor by burning the #puppykiller's book.
— Vote
There is 'No Going Back' from this one, Kristi.
The Trump train has left South Dakota after her title changed from a contender to be Trump's VP to "#KristiNoemIsAMonster." pic.twitter.com/Ir5k3S0V1TFor Democracy (@Lippyaddiction) April 29, 2024
Others came to Noem’s defense:
Regardless of the VP thing, I can tell who was actually born on a farm and who wasn't based on the replies.
— Zpike (@ZpikeJones) April 26, 2024
I was raised on a farm and we would put down a dog in a heartbeat if it was a problem. We culled the runts from litters and destroyed defective animals.
