Kristi Noem Defends Killing Dog and Goat on Family Farm in Upcoming Memoir

South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, a potential running mate for former President Donald Trump in the 2024 election, has defended her actions described in an upcoming memoir where she killed her family's dog and a goat on their farm. In excerpts from the book "No Going Back: The Truth on What's Wrong with Politics and How We Move America Forward," Noem wrote that she shot her 14-month-old wirehair pointer named Cricket in a gravel pit after it attacked a local family's chickens and bit her. She deemed the dog "untrainable" and "dangerous to anyone she came in contact with."

Noem also described shooting a "nasty and mean" male goat that had a "disgusting, musky, rancid" smell and would chase and knock down her kids. She killed the goat in a similar manner as the dog, needing two shots to do so. A nearby construction crew witnessed the incident.

The revelations have drawn immediate criticism from Democrats and animal rights groups like PETA. The Democratic National Committee called Noem's account "horrifying" and "disturbing," while PETA accused her of being "lazy" and "disgusting" for killing the animals instead of finding other solutions. Some have described Noem as "sick and twisted " and "trash" over the incidents.

Noem acknowledged that these actions may not be seen as typical for a politician, writing "if I were a better politician I wouldn't tell the story here." However, she defended her decisions, stating that "tough decisions like this happen all the time on a farm" and they recently had to put down three horses that had been with the family for over 25 years. Noem said the book will include more "real, honest and politically incorrect stories" to show her willingness to do difficult and messy things if necessary.

Why this matters: The controversy comes as Noem, a staunch Trump supporter, is considered a potential vice presidential pick for the former president in his 2024 campaign. The memoir excerpts have created a distraction for Noem and drawn widespread condemnation, with some suggesting it could hurt her chances of being selected as Trump's running mate.

Animal experts have criticized Noem's actions, stating that a young puppy's unruly behavior simply means it needs more training and patience, and there are better ways to handle a misbehaving pet than killing it. Legal experts have also suggested Noem's actions may have violated South Dakota animal cruelty laws. Noem seems to be using the backlash to promote her upcoming book, writing on social media that it contains "real, honest, and politically INcorrect stories."

Key Takeaways

• SD Gov. Kristi Noem killed her family's dog and goat, described in her upcoming memoir.
• Noem defended her actions, stating they were "tough decisions" required on a farm.
• The revelations have drawn criticism from Democrats and animal rights groups like PETA.
• Noem's actions may have violated SD animal cruelty laws and could hurt her 2024 VP chances.
• Noem is using the backlash to promote her memoir, which she says contains "politically incorrect" stories.