Governor Kristi Noem Faces Backlash Over Account of Euthanizing Dog in Upcoming Book

South Dakota Governor and potential Republican vice presidential candidate, Kristi Noem, faced criticism on Friday following reports from The Guardian about a section in her upcoming book, “No Going Back,” where she describes euthanizing her 14-month-old dog.

In response to The Guardian’s article, Noem defended her actions, stating, “We love animals, but tough decisions like this happen all the time on a farm.”

According to the reported excerpt, Noem recounted the difficult decision to shoot her dog, Cricket, whom she deemed “less than worthless” and “untrainable.” She described leading Cricket to a gravel pit and euthanizing the animal with her gun.

Additionally, the book allegedly details another instance where Noem euthanized a family goat she described as “nasty and mean.” After initially wounding the goat with her first shot, she retrieved another shell to complete the task.

Noem reflected on the aftermath of these decisions, including her daughter’s confusion upon returning home from school and inquiring about the whereabouts of Cricket.

Although International Focus Hub has not independently verified the section from Noem’s book, social media erupted with criticism and condemnation of her actions, with some expressing horror and others sharing images of their beloved pets.

In response, the Biden campaign seized the opportunity to contrast Noem’s actions with images of President Biden and Vice President Harris interacting affectionately with their dogs.

Noem, who is considered a leading candidate to potentially join former President Trump’s ticket, is currently serving her second term as Governor of South Dakota, having previously represented the state in the U.S. House of Representatives.