South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem is facing widespread criticism after revealing in her new memoir that she shot her 14-month-old puppy, named Cricket, because it was deemed "untrainable." In her book, Governor Noem recounted the incident, expressing frustration that the puppy did not learn how to hunt pheasants quickly enough.
Describing her feelings towards the puppy, Governor Noem stated that she "hated that dog" and considered it "less than worthless" as a hunting companion. She recounted an incident where Cricket, while on a pheasant hunt, exhibited uncontrollable excitement and later attacked a neighbor's chickens. Following the incident, Governor Noem led the dog and a pet goat to a gravel pit where she shot them both dead.
The revelation has sparked outrage online, with many condemning Governor Noem's actions as cruel and unnecessary. Critics have pointed out that shooting a pet because it did not meet expectations is not an acceptable solution, particularly considering alternative options such as rehoming or further training.
In response to the backlash, Governor Noem defended her actions, stating that "tough decisions like this happen all the time on a farm," and emphasizing the realities of rural life. However, her justification has done little to quell the public's outrage over the killing of the puppy.
Animal rights activists and concerned citizens alike are calling for accountability and condemning the Governor's actions, arguing that compassion and responsible pet ownership should always be prioritized. The incident hurts Noem's chances of securing a spot on the national ticket as Trump's running mate. With a litany of court cases and negative press, Trump needs to bring someone onto the ticket who will not give the Democrats any more routes of attack.
Noem has also faced multiple accusations of affairs, including with a Republican strategist. For now, Trump is unlikely to choose Noem as his running mate, with other solid options on the table, such as Ben Carson, Tucker Carlson, JD Vance, and Greg Abbott rumored to be on the shortlist.
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