To Protect Her Kids, Noem Claims She Shot a “Very Dangerous” Dog

South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, a Republican, has faced scrutiny this week for sharing a story about having to kill her dog. On Wednesday, she defended her actions by explaining that she shot the dog because it posed a danger to her children.

“The dog was very dangerous,” Noem said on Fox News’s “Hannity” on Wednesday. “We received it from a family who thought she was too aggressive.”

“We were the opportunity for her to start again.” She said that the day she was euthanized was the same day she killed our neighbors’ livestock. “She assaulted me.” And it was a difficult decision.

Noem explained that she had to decide between ensuring the safety of her young children and other people, or keeping a dangerous animal. She ultimately chose to prioritize the safety of her children.

She has received a lot of criticism for the story in her new book, which was discovered by The Guardian after they received an early copy. After the news came out, Democratic governors used social media to make fun of Noem. They shared pictures of themselves with their dogs and wrote: “Share a picture with your dog that doesn’t involve shooting them and throwing them in a gravel pit.”

Also Read: Second Boeing Whistleblower Passes Away After Bringing Up 737 Max Issues

The book excerpt states that the governor of the Mount Rushmore State shot her dog, a 14-month-old German wirehaired pointer named Cricket, at a gravel pit on her property. The governor mentioned that it was an unpleasant task but felt it was necessary.

Noem was previously considered a strong candidate to be former President Trump’s running mate in November. However, her chances of becoming the vice-president are now very unlikely. Many Republicans are confused and skeptical about her chances due to the anecdote and other controversies.

Some people compared her story to a political incident from Sen. Mitt Romney’s (R-Utah) 2012 presidential campaign. During the campaign, Romney received criticism for tying his dog to the roof of his car during a family road trip.

The senator disagreed with the comparison earlier this week, stating, “I did not eat my dog.” I did not shoot my dog. I really loved my dog, and my dog really loved me. Noem has strongly reaffirmed her decision in recent days.

“I can see why some people are angry about a story from 20 years ago about Cricket, one of the dogs that works on our ranch, in my upcoming book – No Going Back,” she wrote on Sunday on the social platform X. “The book contains a lot of true stories from my life, including both good and bad days, challenges, difficult decisions, and things I have learned.”