An internet story dating back 20 years details an incident involving potential Trump VP Kristi Noem, who reportedly shot her dog named Cricket on her South Dakota farm. She deemed the dog untrainable and dangerous, leading to its death in a gravel pit.
Kristi Noem, the Governor of South Dakota, expressed dislike for the dog but clarified that her decision to shoot was based on the dog’s perceived threat, not personal feelings.
Cricket, a wirehaired pointer whose gender is unspecified in the report, was a working dog on Noem’s farm. The incident occurred when Cricket escaped from Noem’s truck after a pheasant hunt and attacked local chickens.
Noem, citing South Dakota law, which allows for the euthanasia of dogs that attack livestock, decided to put Cricket down after the dog also exhibited aggressive behavior towards people.
Noem has stood by her decision, describing it as difficult but necessary, and has addressed the ongoing criticism in her new book and on social media. Despite the backlash, she reaffirmed her actions, taken two decades ago, as lawful and justified.
She said that she took responsibility even though it was a hard thing to do. It may damage her political career because she is on the list of potential vice presidential pics for Donald Trump as mentioned.
She has been trying to position herself as a strong option. She tried to turn the story into something more positive by saying on social media that: “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.”
UPDATE: Read this for some more information: Fact Check: Kristi Noem shot her dog Cricket “in a fit of anger”
Comment: She claimed to have acted within the law. However, animal advocates would likely disagree with her actions. A more appropriate solution might have been to rehome the young dog, which was only 14 months old. A more humane approach would have been preferable to what she considered a problem. It’s my belief that her dislike for her dog partly motivated her to shoot it. Additionally, her access to firearms due to her interest in hunting may have influenced her decision. It could be argued that a person who enjoys hunting may hold a different view on animal sentience compared to those who oppose it.
Picture credit: By Office of the Governor, South Dakota – https://governor.sd.gov/governor/about.aspx, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=137987705
