(The Hill) — South Dakota Republican Gov. Kristi Noem, who has been under the microscope this week for an anecdote about killing her dog, defended her actions Wednesday, saying she shot the “dangerous” pup to protect her children.
“It was a dog that was extremely dangerous,” Noem said Wednesday on Fox News’ “Hannity.” “It had come to us from a family who had found her way too aggressive.”
“We were her second chance. And she was — the day she was put down was a day that she massacred livestock that were part of our neighbors,” she continued. “She attacked me. And it was a hard decision.”
Noem added that she had to choose between “keeping my small children and other people safe, or a dangerous animal, and I chose the safety of my children.”
Her latest remarks come as she’s faced heavy scrutiny over the anecdote in her upcoming book, which was uncovered by The Guardian after the outlet received an advanced copy. In light of the reporting, Democratic governors took to social media to mock Noem, posting pictures with their dogs alongside the caption: “Post a picture with your dog that doesn’t involve shooting them and throwing them in a gravel pit.”
According to the book excerpt, the governor of the Mount Rushmore State took the dog — a 14-month-old wire-haired pointer named Cricket — to a gravel pit on her property and shot it, writing that it was “not a pleasant job” but “had to be done.
Noem, once seen as a top contender for former President Trump’s running mate in November, has likely doomed her chances of securing the vice-presidential spot. The anecdote, paired with other controversies, has left many Republicans scratching their heads and doubting her chances.
Her anecdote even drew parallels from some to a decade-old story about Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah. During his 2012 presidential campaign, Romney faced blowback over a story about him tying his dog to the roof of his car on a family road trip.
The senator pushed back on the comparison earlier this week, saying “I didn’t eat my dog. I didn’t shoot my dog. I loved my dog, and my dog loved me.”
Noem too has doubled down on her decision in recent days.
“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,” she wrote Sunday on the social platform X. “The book is filled with many honest stories of my life, good and bad days, challenges, painful decisions, and lessons learned.”