South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem is facing backlash after revealing in her upcoming memoir that she killed her dog, Cricket, because it was “untrainable” and “dangerous”. The story, which was obtained by The Guardian ahead of the book’s release on 7 May, has sparked outrage online.
In the memoir titled “No Going Back: The Truth on What’s Wrong with Politics and How We Move America Forward,” Noem detailed how she led Cricket to a gravel pit and shot her, describing it as a “difficult” but necessary task.
Critics, including the Democratic National Committee and Meghan McCain, have condemned Noem for her actions. The DNC stated, “If you want elected officials who don’t brag about brutally killing their pets… vote Democrat,” while McCain said, “You can recover from a lot of things in politics, change the narrative etc – but not from killing a dog.”
Noem defended herself on Twitter, stating that tough decisions like this are common on a farm. She also promised more “real, honest, and politically incorrect stories” in her book.
The governor, who dropped out of college to run her family farm, recounted in the memoir how Cricket’s behavior led to the decision to put her down after she attacked a local family’s chickens. Noem also shared another incident in which she had to shoot a male goat that was aggressive towards her children.
Despite the controversy, Noem remains a potential running mate for former President Donald Trump, who has hinted at her inclusion on his list. Noem has served as South Dakota’s governor since 2018, making history as the state’s first female governor.