SD Gov. Noem responds to backlash over story of shooting her own dog

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

REPUBLICAN SOUTH DAKOTA GOVERNOR -KRISTI NOEM- IS RESPONDING TO BACKLASH – AFTER REVEALING IN HER UPCOMING MEMOIR – THAT SHE KILLED HER DOG NAMED CRICKET AND A GOAT ON HER RANCH – 20 YEARS AGO. 

THE GUARDIAN FIRST REPORTED THE INCIDENT IN NOEM’S BOOK TITLED “NO GOING BACK: THE TRUTH ON WHAT’S WRONG WITH POLITICS AND HOW WE MOVE AMERICA FORWARD” SAYING THEY OBTAINED A COPY. 

ACCORDING TO THE REPORT… NOEM WRITES IN HER BOOK – THAT CRICKET WAS A FEMALE WIREHAIRED POINTER, ABOUT 14 MONTHS OLD… AND HAD “AN AGGRESSIVE PERSONALITY”. NOEM WAS TRAINING CRICKET FOR PHEASANT HUNTING.

NOEM WRITES SHE HAD TAKEN CRICKET OUT FOR A PHEASANT HUNT AND WAS HOPING TO CALM DOWN THE PUPPY – BUT THAT CRICKET WAS “OUT OF HER MIND WITH EXCITEMENT, CHASING ALL THOSE BIRDS AND HAVING THE TIME OF HER LIFE.” 

ON THE WAY HOME FROM THE HUNT – NOEM WRITES THAT SHE HAD STOPPED TO SPEAK WITH A LOCAL FAMILY WHEN CRICKETT ESCAPED THE CAR AND ATTACKED THE FAMILY’S CHICKENS LIKE A “TRAINED ASSASSIN.”

NOEM SAYS SHE ATTEMPTED TO STOP CRICKET FROM EATING THE CHICKENS WHEN SHE GRABBED HER – AND THAT CRICKET WHIPPED AROUND TO BITE HER. 

“I HATED THAT DOG” – NOEM WRITES SAYING CRICKET WAS “DANGEROUS TO ANYONE SHE CAME IN CONTACT WITH” AND “UNTRAINABLE.” 

“AT THAT MOMENT, I REALIZED I HAD TO PUT HER DOWN.” 

THE GOVERNOR WRITES ABOUT HOW SHE LED CRICKET TO A GRAVEL PIT – AND SHOT HER.

“IT WAS NOT A PLEASANT JOB BUT IT HAD TO BE DONE” NOEM SAID. 

THE GOVERNOR THEN WRITES ABOUT HOW PUT DOWN A FAMILY GOAT – WHICH SHE DESCRIBED AS “NASTY AND MEAN” AND HAD A HABIT OF CHASING HER CHILDREN AND KNOCKING THEM DOWN.

NOEM – WHO HAS BEEN FLOATED AS A POSSIBLE PICK FOR FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP’S VICE PRESIDENT – RECEIVED PUSHBACK FROM BOTH REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS OVER THE ADMITTED KILLINGS. 

THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE RELEASED A STATEMENT IN THE VOICE OF PETS OWNED BY DEMOCRATS SAYING IN PART: ““Our message is plain and simple: If you want elected officials who don’t brag about brutally killing their pets as part of their self-promotional book tour, then listen to our owners — and vote Democrat.”

FAR-RIGHT TRUMP SUPPORTER LAURA LOOMER POSTED TO X: “SHE CAN’T BE V-P NOW. YOU CAN’T SHOOT YOUR DOG AND THEN BE VP.”

NOEM TOOK TO X TO DEFEND HERSELF SAYING IN PART “I can understand why some people are upset about a 20 year old story of Cricket, one of the working dogs at our ranch… The fact is, South Dakota law states that dogs who attack and kill livestock can be put down. Given that Cricket had shown aggressive behavior toward people by biting them, I decided what I did. 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.”