'We love animals, but tough decisions like this happen all the time on a farm,' Noem said on X in response to the backlash.
Gov. Kristi Noem pressed on decision against 2024 candidacy: 'Why run if you can't win?'
Fox News' Lawrence Jones sat down with South Dakota Republican Gov. Kristi Noem at the Sturgis motorcycle rally to discuss her take on the 2024 race and various issues plaguing Biden's presidency.
Social media users expressed shock and disapproval after a story of Gov. Kristi Noem, R-S.D., putting down her own dog because he was deemed "untrainable" went viral on X this week.
British outlet The Guardian published a report on the story Friday, which is an excerpt from her new memoir "No Going Back," which is set to be released on May 7.
According to the report, Noem wrote that she took her 14-month-old female dog "Cricket" to a "gravel pit" near her farm and shot it dead because it was "less than worthless" and "untrainable."
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South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem is being criticized for an excerpt from her upcoming book that details how she killed one of her hunting dogs for being "untrainable." (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Noem explained to the outlet how the dog had ruined a pheasant hunt, going "out of her mind with excitement, chasing all those birds and having the time of her life."
The governor also noted that Cricket went AWOL and ate several of the chickens on Noem’s farm.
About the killing, Noem’s book reportedly added, "It was not a pleasant job, but it had to be done. And after it was over, I realized another unpleasant job needed to be done."
Additionally, Noem’s memoir recounted taking a family goat to the gravel pit where it suffered the same fate as Cricket. Noem justified the killing saying it was "nasty and mean."
Taking to the social media platform X, Noem specifically replied to the Guardian story.
"We love animals, but tough decisions like this happen all the time on a farm. Sadly, we just had to put down 3 horses a few weeks ago that had been in our family for 25 years," the governor admitted.
She also added a plug for her book, stating, "If you want more real, honest, and politically incorrect stories that’ll have the media gasping, preorder ‘No Going Back.’"
We love animals, but tough decisions like this happen all the time on a farm. Sadly, we just had to put down 3 horses a few weeks ago that had been in our family for 25 years.
— Kristi Noem (@KristiNoem) April 26, 2024
If you want more real, honest, and politically INcorrect stories that’ll have the media gasping,… pic.twitter.com/bKhpUkchHV
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"This book has got some stories that reflect that of people that the readers will know, but it'll also give a lot of examples of things and action plans that they can take to really move the needle on resetting our country back on its foundation," Noem told Fox News Digital about her upcoming book in February. (Kristi Noem, Getty Images)
Noem’s post received nearly six million views in only a day, and courted a wave of horrified reactions on the social media platform, even from among her conservative fans, some of whom argued that it killed her shot at being former President Trump’s vice presidential candidate.
Perplexed at why she shared the story, independent journalist Tim Pool asked, "did she just intentionally end her career?"
did she just intentionally end her career? https://t.co/EiE5B1IpgG
— Tim Pool (@Timcast) April 26, 2024
Conservative influencer duo The Hodge Twins remarked, "Telling everybody you shot your young dog and promoting your book at the same time? wtf, this is wild."
Telling everybody you shot your young dog and promoting your book at the same time?
— Hodgetwins (@hodgetwins) April 27, 2024
wtf, this is wild https://t.co/e9Cjqyz9QE
Popular pro-Trump account "Catturd" seemed to take the story personally, posting, "Omg - now my blood is boiling. Remember, I’m a country boy who lives on a ranch . There’s a huge difference between putting an old horse down who is suffering, than shooting a 18 month dog for being untrainable. But then to plug your book at the end."
"Seriously, is it just me? [I’m[sic] have no words," he added.
Omg - now my blood is boiling.
— Catturd ™ (@catturd2) April 26, 2024
Remember, I’m a country boy who lives on a ranch . There’s a huge difference between putting an old horse down who is suffering, than shooting a 18 month dog for being untrainable.
But then to plug your book at the end.
Seriously, is it just me?… https://t.co/VhwxnZrd0o
New York Post columnist Miranda Devine commented, "No. Not normal. Shameful."
No. Not normal. Shameful. https://t.co/RUBQe8Hx3Z
— Miranda Devine (@mirandadevine) April 26, 2024
"Florida’s Voice News" CEO Brendon Leslie let Noem have it, writing, "Kristi Noem should be criminally charged for animal abuse - this is vile and disgusting. It’s one thing to put a dog down that is sick - it’s totally unacceptable to put a puppy down because it wasn’t a good hunting dog. Put it up for adoption!"
Kristi Noem should be criminally charged for animal abuse - this is vile and disgusting
— Brendon Leslie (@BrendonLeslie) April 26, 2024
It’s one thing to put a dog down that is sick - it’s totally unacceptable to put a puppy down because it wasn’t a good hunting dog. Put it up for adoption! https://t.co/PeNUntt993
Independent reporter "Publius" made a pun out of the anecdote, posting, "@KristiNoem just SHOT her political career in the head at point blank range. Absolute Psycho. And of course Trump is considering her for VP!"
.@KristiNoem just SHOT her political career in the head at point blank range.
— Publius (@OcrazioCornPop) April 27, 2024
Absolute Psycho.
And of course Trump is considering her for VP! 🤡🌎 https://t.co/TW59N7QQTU
When asked by Fox News Digital, Noem's staff had nothing to add beyond Noem's initial response to The Guardian's post.
Gabriel Hays is an associate editor for Fox News Digital.
