South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem Faces Backlash for Killing Dog and Goat in New Book
The Truth on What's Wrong with Politics and How We Move America Forward." In the book, Noem recounts killing an unruly dog and a smelly goat.
The Guardian obtained a copy of the book, where Noem describes taking her 14-month-old wirehaired pointer, Cricket, on a hunting trip. Cricket, however, chased the pheasants instead of calming down. On the way home, Cricket attacked and killed some of a family's chickens and bit Noem. Despite apologizing and compensating the family, Noem writes that she "realized I had to put her down" and killed Cricket in a gravel pit.
Noem also describes killing a "nasty and mean" male goat that smelled bad and chased her children. She writes that the goat survived the first shot, so she went back to the truck, got another shell, and shot him again.
The excerpts from the book have drawn immediate criticism on social media, with many posting photos of their own pets. President Joe Biden's reelection campaign surfaced the story alongside a photo of Noem with Trump. Other politicians, including Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, also posted photos of themselves with their dogs and criticized Noem's actions.
The Lincoln Project, a conservative group that opposes Trump, posted a video calling shooting a dog "cruel" and "unsportsmanlike."
Noem defended herself on social media, saying, "We love animals, but tough decisions like this happen all the time on a farm." She also urged readers to preorder her book for "more real, honest, and politically INcorrect stories."
Republican strategist Alice Stewart said that while some Republican voters might appreciate the story "as a testament to her grit," it ultimately creates a distraction for Noem. "It's never a good look when people think you're mistreating animals," Stewart said.
This is not the first time Noem has grabbed national attention. In 2019, she stood behind the state's anti-meth campaign despite its controversial tagline "Meth. We're on it." Last month, she posted a video praising a team of cosmetic dentists in Texas for giving her a new smile. This video raised questions about whether she violated South Dakota law by accepting a gift worth over $100 from a non-registered lobbyist.