Noem responds to criticism for killing dog
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (R) defended herself from social media criticism Sunday after she shared a story about killing her dog after a hunting trip.
In an excerpt of her new book, Noem described shooting and killing her 14-month-old wirehaired pointer, Cricket, due to poor behavior. The story garnered mass criticism online, including a viral response from Democratic governors, who mocked Noem by sharing photos with their own pets.
“I can understand why some people are upset about a 20 year old story of Cricket, one of the working dogs at our ranch, in my upcoming book — No Going Back,” Noem wrote Sunday on the social platform X. “The book is filled with many honest stories of my life, good and bad days, challenges, painful decisions, and lessons learned.”
Noem defended her decision to kill the dog and to share the story, saying it shows constituents that she is “authentic, willing to learn from the past, and [doesn't] shy away from tough challenges.”
“The fact is, South Dakota law states that dogs who attack and kill livestock can be put down,” she wrote. “Given that Cricket had shown aggressive behavior toward people by biting them, I decided what I did.”
In the story shared in her book, first reported by The Guardian, Noem wrote that Cricket chased away pheasants during a hunting trip, ruining the hunt, and that it later attacked a local family’s chickens.
“I hated that dog,” she wrote, adding that Cricket was untrainable, dangerous and worthless as a hunting dog.
“At that moment,” Noem wrote, “I realized I had to put her down.”
She then led Cricket to a gravel pit on her property and shot it, writing it was “not a pleasant job” but it “had to be done.”
Noem wrote that she also then killed a “nasty and mean” male goat that smelled and liked to chase her children. Because it jumped when she first shot at the goat, she needed two shots to “put him down.”
The criticism comes as Noem is under consideration to be former President Trump’s running mate. The governor is reportedly a finalist on a shortlist for the vice presidency.
The Democratic National Committee, in its response, also called out other comments from Noem that they deemed extreme, including defending her state’s abortion ban when asked about 10-year-olds forced to give birth. And it highlighted times that she has praised Trump, including when she said in September she would be his running mate “in a heartbeat.”
Date: |
Topics
Filter
-
At Westminster dog show, a display of dogs and devotion
The 148th Westminster Kennel Club dog show is underwayABC News - Entertainment -
Westminster Dog Show 2024: The Rescue Dog That Became a Star
An animal whisperer and her feisty mutt Miles were among the hopefuls at the dog show’s agility competition.The New York Times - Lifestyle -
A High-Stakes Obstacle Course, for Dogs
A look behind the scenes of the agility competition that helped kick off this week’s Westminster Dog Show.The New York Times - Lifestyle -
The critical difference that could save Cuellar
Politico - Politics -
International UN Worker Is Killed in Gaza
It was the first time an international U.N. employee had been killed in Gaza since the war began last October.The New York Times - World - United Nations
More from The Hill
-
Kristen Welker announces she's expecting second child via 'angel on Earth' surrogate
Kristen Welker is growing her family, revealing she and her husband are expecting a second child via surrogacy. "John and I are thrilled to announce we are welcoming a second baby to our family with the help of another amazing surrogate!" the ...The Hill - Politics -
UN: 450,000 fleeing Rafah
Almost half a million Palestinians have fled Gaza, according to the United Nations, as an Israeli military incursion continues in the area. Nearly 450,000 people have fled the Palestinian city in the southern Gaza Strip over the past week, ...The Hill - Politics -
Would Lindsey Graham nuke Gaza?
What is the senator inferring by raising the Hiroshima and Nagasaki examples?The Hill - Politics -
We need policy solutions to address the collapse of the media industry
When faced with emergencies in public health, in public safety and in public education, Americans have responded with measures proportionate to the challenges at hand. Such a moment has arrived for the public-information systems on which our ...The Hill - Politics -
Michael Cohen retakes the stand in Trump’s hush money trial: Live updates
Former President Trump’s former fixer Michael Cohen is slated to retake the stand Tuesday to continue direct examination in the hush money trial as prosecutors’ star witness. Cohen spent an entire court day testifying on Monday, where he appeared ...The Hill - Politics