South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem has come under fire after an excerpt from her new book revealed that she shot and killed her puppy. The revelation, which was published in The Guardian last week, has sparked backlash from both the political Left and Right. In her book, "No Going Back: The Truth on What's Wrong with Politics and How We Move America Forward," Noem shared the story of her decision to put down a wirehair pointer named Cricket, who she described as having an "aggressive personality."
Noem, who is known for her conservative values, said she included the vignette in her book to demonstrate her willingness to tackle "difficult, messy, and ugly" issues. She recounted how she took the 14-month-old Cricket on a hunting trip, but the puppy's "out of control" behavior ruined the trip. On the drive home, the puppy escaped from her truck and killed a family's chickens.
According to Noem, when she finally caught Cricket, the puppy "whipped around to bite" her, causing her to fear for her safety. She explained that she hated the dog and considered her "less than worthless" as a hunting companion. Noem also claimed that Cricket was "dangerous to anyone she came in contact with."
The governor said she made the tough decision to put the puppy down and enlisted the help of her father for the task. She brought Cricket to a gravel ditch and shot her with a shotgun, saying it was the "kindest" thing to do. Additionally, she decided to put down a "nasty and mean" goat that had never been castrated.
Noem's account of the incident has sparked outrage on social media. Critics accused her of being cruel and heartless for killing the puppy. However, the governor addressed the backlash in a post on Sunday, stating that she stands by her decision.
"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," she wrote. "What I learned from my years of public service, especially leading South Dakota through COVID, is people are looking for leaders who are authentic, willing to learn from the past and don't shy away from tough challenges."
She added that her hope is for readers to understand that she always strives to make the best decisions for the people in her life. Noem also pointed out that South Dakota law allows for dogs that attack and kill livestock to be put down. As Cricket had already shown aggressive behavior towards people by biting them, Noem felt that her decision was justified.
Despite the criticism, Noem is adamant that she acted responsibly as a parent, dog owner, and neighbor. "Even if it's hard and painful, I have never passed on my responsibilities to anyone else to handle," she wrote. "I followed the law and was a responsible parent, dog owner, and neighbor. As I explained in the book, it wasn't easy. But often the easy way isn't the right way."
Meanwhile, the controversy has caused a divide among politicians, with some defending Noem's decision and others condemning it. Even those who agree with her stance on the incident have expressed discomfort with her candidness in sharing the story.
As the backlash continues, Noem remains unapologetic and stands by her actions. The full extent of the impact this will have on her political career remains to be seen. However, what is clear is that this controversial revelation has sparked heated debate and raised questions about the governor's decision-making.