Staff Reports
South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem is standing by her decision to put down her dog, Cricket, despite facing criticism in the lead-up to the release of her new book. The book includes a story about the governor having to make the tough decision to euthanize her 14-month-old puppy after it killed a neighbor’s chickens and bit her. Noem took to social media to explain that her book is filled with honest stories from her life, both the good and the bad, and she wanted to share the difficult moments as well as the triumphs.
Noem defended her actions, citing South Dakota law, which allows for dogs that attack and kill livestock to be euthanized. She also emphasized that Cricket had shown aggressive behavior towards people by biting them, leading to her decision. The governor stated that she took her responsibilities as a dog owner seriously, even during challenging times, and believed that putting Cricket down was the responsible choice.
I can understand why some people are upset about a 20 year old story of Cricket, one of the working dogs at our ranch, in my upcoming book — No Going Back. The book is filled with many honest stories of my life, good and bad days, challenges, painful decisions, and lessons…
— Kristi Noem (@KristiNoem) April 28, 2024
The story in Noem’s book has stirred controversy, with several Democratic governors using social media to mock the South Dakota governor. Despite this, Noem’s upcoming book, titled No Going Back: The Truth on What’s Wrong with Politics and How We Move America Forward, has garnered praise from former President Donald Trump, who described it as a “winner.”
In her defense of the difficult decision, Noem highlighted the importance of taking responsibility, even when it is not easy. The controversy surrounding her actions has not deterred her from sharing her story, as she prepares to release her book on May 7, outlining her vision for the future of the Republican Party and the United States.
