Staff Reports
Former President Donald Trump’s VP shortlist has been a hot topic lately. One top contender, South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, was in the running until she shared a story about shooting her aggressive young dog.
Despite being a common practice in rural areas, the revelation caused extreme backlash and likely dashed any hopes of Noem becoming Trump’s running mate. The incident is detailed in her upcoming book, where she explains how she had to put down her dog “Cricket” for being aggressive towards chickens.
What do you think about Kristi Noem killing her 14 month old puppy ?
She said it killed one of her neighbors chickens and bit her.
Is this a good reason to kill a dog ?
She described how she “hated that dog” and described it as “less than worthless … as a hunting dog.” pic.twitter.com/v0YPmciFga
— Terrence K. Williams (@w_terrence) April 26, 2024
Critics argue that she could have rehomed the dog instead of resorting to lethal measures. The social media frenzy surrounding the story made it impossible for Noem to stay on the VP shortlist. Some even compared the situation to Senator Mitt Romney’s dog controversy that tarnished his image.
The public outcry on social media was intense, with many expressing disappointment and a loss of support for Noem. While some understood the need to euthanize a violent animal, others condemned her actions. Even those who admired Noem were let down by the dog-killing story, showing the power of public perception in politics.
