South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem is facing criticism from prominent names within the Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement after reports emerged of her shooting her “untrainable” dog. The governor shared an account of the incident in an excerpt from her book, where she described the dog as having an “aggressive personality.” After the dog, named Cricket, went out of control during a pheasant hunt and attacked a family’s chickens, Noem made the decision to put the dog down. She described Cricket as “untrainable” and “dangerous” to anyone it came in contact with.
Responses to the news of Noem shooting her dog were mixed, with some expressing outrage at the governor’s actions. Far-right activist Laura Loomer criticized the decision, stating that as a dog lover, she found it heartless to kill a puppy. Other social media accounts within the MAGA movement also condemned Noem for shooting the dog, with some offering to take the dog in and provide it with a loving home instead. Many were disappointed by the governor’s actions and questioned how she could shoot a healthy dog.
Noem responded to the backlash by explaining that tough decisions like euthanizing animals are sometimes necessary on a farm. She mentioned having to put down three horses a few weeks prior, illustrating that these difficult decisions are a common occurrence in that environment. The governor, who is a close ally of former President Donald Trump, has been speculated to be a potential pick for his running mate in the future. Trump had previously indicated that Noem was being considered as a potential vice president candidate, but Noem herself stated that they had not discussed the possibility of her running with him in 2024.
Despite the controversy surrounding her shooting of Cricket, Noem’s chances of being selected as Trump’s running mate have fluctuated according to online prediction platforms. After the news of the incident emerged, Polymarket gave Noem a 3 percent chance of potentially being the next Republican vice president. This was a decrease from the 5 percent chance she had been given previously. Noem faces scrutiny and criticism from within the MAGA movement for her decision to euthanize her dog, with some questioning her judgment and compassion towards animals.
